A comparison of working memory skills and learning in children with developmental coordination disorder and moderate learning difficulties

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Packiam Alloway ◽  
Kathryn Joanne Temple
2018 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 211-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra J.M. van Cappellen – van Maldegem ◽  
Femke van Abswoude ◽  
Hilde Krajenbrink ◽  
Bert Steenbergen

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. e0252043
Author(s):  
Catherine Lachambre ◽  
Mélodie Proteau-Lemieux ◽  
Jean-François Lepage ◽  
Eve-Line Bussières ◽  
Sarah Lippé

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting primarily motor skills, but attentional and executive impairments are common in affected individuals. Moreover, the presence of neurodevelopmental comorbidities is frequent in this population, which certainly influences the cognitive profile of the children concerned. Previous studies have reported deficits in visuospatial/nonverbal and planning tasks. This systematic review of the literature aims to determine if impairments can be found in other attentional and executive functions as well. The type of cognitive tasks, the tasks’ modality (verbal/nonverbal), and the influence of comorbid disorders on attentional and executive profiles are systematically considered. Forty-one studies were identified through the PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO databases according to pre-established eligibility criteria. The results reveal weaknesses in inhibitory control, working memory, planning, nonverbal fluency, and general executive functioning in children with DCD. The presence of comorbid disorders seemingly contributes to the verbal working memory difficulties findings. This review contributes to a better understanding of the cognitive impairments in DCD and of the needs of children with this disorder, allowing to optimize practitioners’ therapeutic interventions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Michalis Anastasiadis

According to research 5-7% of the total school population face motor learning difficulties such as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). In addition to that, recent findings regarding comorbidity revealed that specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia are very often co-exist with movement difficulties such as DCD. School environment seems to be an ideal setting for early identification, assessment and in-school intervention. Therefore, educators’ knowledge regarding DCD and their ability to identify and assess children with movement difficulties are crucial dimensions for an effective interventional management. The goal of the current paper was a review of the relative literature. The findings reveal that, without specific education, the educators have limited ability to recognize children with DCD. Furthermore, research has shown that well informed and educated educators can be very effective in identification and classification of students with movement difficulties. As a result, early intervention strategies can be developed and applied to help the students and their families. A review of the most commonly used identification instruments is also provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 574-587
Author(s):  
Narges Ghaderi ◽  
◽  
Mohamad Ali Aslankhani ◽  
Ehsan Zareian ◽  
Jaleh Baqirli ◽  
...  

Background and Aims: Children with developmental coordination disorders experience some form of impairment in some executive functions. The present study was designed and conducted to study the effect and retention of cognitive games on the development of three components of executive functions (response inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) among children with developmental coordination disorders. Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a control group. Thirty girls aged 7-10 years with developmental coordination disorder Based on the score obtained in the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-second edition (MABC-2) test set and based on the IQ score, were divided into two experimental and control groups. MABC-2 and Cattle and intelligence tests were used for initial screening, and N-Back, Stroop, and Go-NOGO tests measured working memory, cognitive flexibility, and response inhibition. The training protocol consisted of a series of purposeful cognitive and motor games that explicitly considered the development of a specific component of executive functions. Data were analyzed using a combined two-way analysis (2×3) of variance. Results: The findings showed, performance Working memory (P=0.0001) performance, cognitive flexibility (P=0.045), and response inhibition (P=0.010) increased in the experimental group from pretest to posttest, While no such change was observed in the control group. Also, the effect of improving games on working memory (P=0.0001) and response inhibition (P=0.033) was maintained until the retention test. At the same time, there was no significant difference between cognitive flexibility in the retention test of children with developmental coordination disorder in the experimental group and control. Conclusion: Based on the findings, cognitive-motor games effectively improve and maintain working memory, inhibit response, and develop cognitive flexibility. As a result, according to the results of this study and other studies, it can be acknowledged that intervention as a process as a process-oriented therapy with the involvement of the individual in a mental process improves the executive functions of children with developmental coordination disorder and games introduced in this Research is a good framework for designing and implementing high quality and reproducible programs.


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