Study on Developmental Coordination Disorder Exploring Sensory and Body Representation Abilities in Children and Adults

What this Trial Is About

Developmental Coordination Disorder DCD is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by clumsiness, slowness, and inaccurate motor skills. It affects about 6% of school-aged children, impacting daily activities and school performance. The cause is unknown, but researchers are investigating sensory and perceptual deficits, especially in proprioception and tactile senses, and how these may affect body representation and motor function in children and adults with DCD. The study includes children and adults with DCD as well as healthy control groups. Participants will undergo behavioral tests involving proprioception and tactile localization, requiring manual pointing, eye movement responses, and reach-to-grasp tasks using a wooden block. These tests include phases with and without a tool or weighted bracelet to assess body schema updates and motor performance. Participants will be evaluated on localization accuracy, reaction times, and changes in movement parameters related to tool use. Researchers will measure these outcomes on the first day of testing. The study uses randomized group assignments and does not involve blinding. Participants may be followed through assessments to understand sensory and motor abilities related to DCD. The total age range for participation is 9 to 40 years.

Developmental Coordination Disorder