Executive Function in Children with and without DCD

Abstract

Copyright © The Authors 2022. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a specific learning difficulty related to the development of motor control and coordination skills. It has been reported that children with DCD also have difficulties with Executive Function (EF). EF is a set of skills relating to the monitoring and planning of behaviour that includes Working Memory, Mental Flexibility and Inhibition. Evidence suggests that performance-based tasks and questionnaires assess different aspects of EF skills. The aim of this study was a novel investigation to examine the EF performance of children with DCD using a combination of standardized performance tasks of EF, and parent and teacher questionnaires to provide a broader understanding of difficulties in this area. Twenty-five children with DCD aged 6-10 years, plus 25 age and gender matched typically developing (TD) children completed the Intelligence and Development Scales for Children and Adolescents 2nd Edition (IDS-2) EF component, and all parents completed the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2nd Edition (BRIEF-2). Teachers for 16 children with DCD, and 13 TD children also completed the Teacher BRIEF-2. Compared to TD peers children with DCD had poorer performance on the IDS-2 EF tasks that had a focus on Inhibition and Mental Flexibility. Children with DCD had poorer scores on all areas of the BRIEF-2 Parent questionnaire, and 6 out of 8 areas assessed on the BRIEF-2 Teacher questionnaire. Children with DCD have difficulties with EF, apparent on standardised performance tasks and questionnaires. However, group differences were not found across all measures. Although all children with DCD displayed difficulty on some EF measures, individual variation demonstrates the importance of routine assessment using a range of measures. Further work is needed to better understand the status/role of EF difficulties in DCD and links between the EF and motor difficulties.