Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

• Rahman Baghernia ¹
• Mahmoud Asle Mohammadizadeh ²

¹ MSc of Motor Behavior, Department of Motor Behavior, Faculty of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

² Department of Sport Physiology, School of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction: Developmental Coordination Disorder is a lifelong disability, in that its social, emotional and academic problems may persist through adolescence and adulthood. Therefore, early detection and intervention foraffected children seem to be essential. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder in Iranian children with the age range of 3 to 11 years.Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive-exploratory study for which a multi-stage systematic sampling method was recruited to select the participants of the investigation. At the start of the study, a total number of 1784 Parents were required to complete the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire. 15 percent of children with the lowest inventory scores were subsequently selected for the main study. The Test of Gross Motor development-2 was used to evaluate the motor performance as well as the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder inthe children. Children with common medical disorders and those with IQ less than 70 were excluded from the study. The Chi-Square test at a significance level of α= 0.05 was used for statistical data analysis.Results: The prevalence of Developmental coordination disorder was found to be 2.7%. The calculated prevalence of DCD was found to be 3.53% in boys and 1.85% in girls with an actual gender ratio of 2:1.Conclusion: Although this rate is lower than previouslyreported rates, it demands that parents and officials be moresensitive tothe disorder, enhance physical education programs and encourage children toward physical activities in order to prevent the secondary problems resulted from the disorder.Keywords: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Test of Gross Motor Development-2