Poorly coordinated children: a survey of 95 cases

Abstract

Screening of 717 5-year-olds and 757 7-year-olds, found 55 of the former and 77 of the latter possibly to be poorly coordinated. Further diagnostic testing with the McCarthy Motor Scales confirmed the problem in a total of 95 children, a prevalence of 6.4%. Neurological examination showed 43% of the 5-year-olds and 21% of the 7-year-olds to have choreiform movements. Of the total 95, proprioception was abnormal in 40%, but abnormal muscle tone present in only 4%. An increased prevalence of hearing loss and obesity and a history of developmental delays was found. Low birth weights, prematurity, post-maturity and perinatal problems were significantly associated with poor coordination. Socioeconomic status was not a significant factor. The difficulties of testing and measuring poor coordination and the need for more precise measures are discussed. Follow-up of at risk children at age 5 with tests of motor coordination is recommended.

Relationship between long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at birth and motor function at 7 years of age

“…Consistent with results of other studies (Henderson and Hall, 1982;Johnston et al, 1987) gender differences were found for both aspects. In almost all categories, girls scored better.…”

“…Cognitive function was assessed with the Kaufman-Assessment Battery for Children at 7 years of age, as a part of the follow-up study (Bakker et al, 2003), and included in these analyses because motor function is known to be associated with cognition (Soorani-Lunsing et al, 1993;Weisglas-Kuperus et al, 1994). Furthermore, motor function is known to be associated with gender, gestational age and age at measurement (Henderson and Hall, 1982;Johnston et al, 1987). Therefore, these variables are included in the analyses as well.…”

"Something is Wrong with My Child": A Phenomenological Account of a Search for a Diagnosis

“…This leads to further problems of poor self-esteem and behavioral problems (Rose, Berger & Larkin, 1994). For example, Johnston, Short and Crawford (1987) studied 717 five-year-olds over two years. They found that the clumsy five year olds did not have poor self esteem and behavior problems, but had developed both by the age of seven.…”

Perinatal Risk Factors for Mild Motor Disability

“…Where motor development measures have been tracked over time, only moderate correlations have been observed (Johnston et al, 1987;Michelsson & Lindahl, 1993;Silva & Ross, 1980). Silva and Ross (1980) found that correlations between different motor skill measures lessened with time, from a high of .74 between 3 and 4 years of age to .37 between 3 and 6 years of age.…”

“…Of interest to this article is the contribution of an infant's in-utero and early life experiences to their later motor development. A detailed examination of early childhood risk factors of MMD remains a distinctive gap in the literature, although the notion that some maternal and perinatal factors have the potential to contribute to suboptimal motor outcomes is not new.A higher incidence of birth-related factors such as prolonged labour, abnormal delivery, caesarean section, or use of forceps (Gubbay, 1975;Hoare, 1991) or childrelated factors such as toxaemia, jaundice, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preterm or overdue birth dates, or need for ventilation (Davis, Ford, Anderson, & Doyle, 2007;Hoare, 1991;Johnston, Short, & Crawford, 1987;Jongmans, Henderson, de Vries, & Dubowitz, 1993;Michelsson & Lindahl, 1993) have been noted among MMD children. As early as 1947, Gesell and Amatruda reported a higher incidence of birth injuries among children with motor difficulties.…”