Motor Skills and Visual Deficits in Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a developmental disorder in which numerous comorbidities seem to coexist, such as motor and visual impairment and some executive functions; Methods: A narrative review on motor and visual deficits in children with DCD was carried out; Results and Discussion: Fine and gross motor skills are affected in children with DCD. In addition, they seem to be related to visual deficits, such as difficulty in visual perception, sensory processing and visual memory. Limitations have also been found in accommodation. Interventions in children with DCD should be aimed at improving both aspects, since vision affects motor skills and vice versa; Conclusions: In children with DCD, who present a marked deficit in global shape processing, it causes an association between deficiencies in visual perception and motor skills.

Alterations in cortical thickness and volumes of subcortical structures in pediatric patients with complete spinal cord injury

“… 33 , 34 , 35 Deficits in visuospatial neural functions may affect the motor performance of children. 36 Moreover, children's vision may also be impacted by differences in motor skill acquisition since visuospatial attention has been demonstrated to develop with locomotor experience in early childhood. 37 , 38 , 39 Individuals with sensory motor dysfunctions may require precise information from their visual environment to adapt their movements and complete functional tasks like reaching.…”

“…Previous scholars have demonstrated a critical role for vision in all aspects of movement, including motor planning, movement control, error evaluation, and feedback 33–35 . Deficits in visuospatial neural functions may affect the motor performance of children 36 . Moreover, children's vision may also be impacted by differences in motor skill acquisition since visuospatial attention has been demonstrated to develop with locomotor experience in early childhood 37–39 .…”

Children with developmental coordination disorders: a review of approaches to assessment and intervention

“…Visual and tactile perceptual skills training are crucial components of perceptual training for children with DCD. Visual feedback plays a significant role in the development of motor skills in children ( 101 ). The integration of visually perceived information into motor commands is essential for making adjustments to force output and correcting errors ( 102 ).…”