Motor learning in children with DCD

For most children, motor abilities develop naturally. However, a number of
children lag behind in their motor development compared to their age-matched
peers. A number of these children receives the diagnosis *Developmental
Coordination Disorder* (DCD). The diagnostic criteria for DCD are:
- A delay in motor development compared to age-matched peers,
- An impact of this developmental delay on daily activities and/or academic
achievements
- Early onset (in infancy) of the motor problems
- Reported problems cannot be better explained by visual, intellectual, or
neurological impairments .
Typically, DCD is diagnosed around 6 to 8 years of age. Later diagnosis is
possible, but with age, it becomes harder to verify the early onset of the
problems.

It is very probable that the motor delay observed in DCD stems from problems in
motor learning. However, to date, no reports are known that quantify the motor
learning ability of these children in a systematic manner, as this typically is
done in research on motor learning in healthy adults, adults with Huntington*s
disease, and older adults. The proposed research aims to yield a first
quantification and comparison with children without a delay in motor
development. The hypothesis is that the motor learning rate is slower for
children with DCD than for age-matched controls.

The proposed study aims to quantify motor learning ability in children with DCD
and provide a comparison with age-matched controls.

Secondary objective is to provide a tool and to report a protocol of how to
quantify motor learning ability in children, including children with DCD.

The study is observational in nature. We will make use of a between-subjects
design, in which we study the difference in motor learning rate between
children with DCD and children without such diagnosis.

There no known risks associated nor expected with the research protocol. The
burden for participating children and their parents will be kept minimal. If
there are signs that the child finds the situation unpleasant, then the
research will be ended. Likewise, the study can be interrupted or ended upon
request of the parent at any moment. Both parent and child will be informed
that this is the case.

The current study will include a patient group and minors, as there is no other
way to obtain a valid quantification of motor learning rate in the age shortly
after diagnosis. The further away in time from the diagnosis, the harder it
becomes to pinpoint whether the observed values can be tied to the diagnosis
established in childhood