The diagnostic accuracy of the schoolAMPS for children in the age of 6 to 11 years with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)

The diagnosis Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is quite common in
rehabilitation for children. Children diagnosed with DCD have poor motor
skills, compared to typically developing children of the same age. This
impairment to acquire motor skills adequately has a significant, negative
impact on academical skills and activities of daily living. The diagnosis DCD
is made by four criteria which are stated in the DSM-IV. There is an
international advice given about the use of diagnostic tests for every
criterion for the diagnosis DCD in the DSM-IV. A child has to perform a test of
locomotion, to make clear if that child has poor motor skills compared to
children of the same age. In the Netherlands the Movement Assessment Battery
for Children (the m-abc) is used. There is no objective diagnostic test to make
clear if a child experiences problems to perform activities of daily living or
academical skills.
Recently the schoolAMPS is developed. The schoolAMPS is a standardized
observation method to estimate the quality of performance of a child during
academical activities. The schoolAMPS is developed for all children who are
seen in child rehabilitation centers.
It*s insufficiently clear if children with DCD deviate in scores on the
schoolAMPS, compared to typically developing children of the same age in the
Netherlands.

What is the diagnostic accuracy of the schoolAMPS for children with DCD in the
age of 6 to 11 year, compared to typical developing children in the same age,
in the Netherlands?
With diagnostic accuracy is meant: is it possible with the schoolAMPS to
determine and measure the differences between children with DCD and typical
developing children of the same age in the Netherlands.

It will be a cross-sectional study design. All children who participate in the
study will be examined with the schoolAMPS and de m-abc. The parents and the
teachers are asked to fill in two questionnaires each. The examiners of each
test will be blinded for the results of the other tests. The diagnosis DCD will
be made based upon the results of the m-abc.

Children can only participate in the study, if their parents have signed the
permission form.
Children who participate in this study are not at risk. They are going to
perform a test of locomotion in Rijnlands Rehabilitation Center. The testitems
will be presented without effort. This will take 30 to 45 minutes for each
child. Their parents and teachers wil be asked to fill in two questionnaires.
This will take them 30 to 45 minutes.
The schoolAMPS is an observation performed by an occupational therapist, in the
classroom of the child. The child and the teacher will be performing the normal
program of the class. The observation will take 30 tot 45 minutes. The teacher
will be interviewed by phone, before the schoolAMPS observation will take
place. This will take 15 minutes of time from the teacher.