When a child struggles to tie their shoelaces, write legibly, or stay upright during PE, these difficulties are often dismissed as clumsiness or lack of effort. However, for around 5 per cent of UK children, such challenges stem from a neurodevelopmental condition known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also called dyspraxia. New findings reveal how deeply DCD impacts the lives of affected children at home, in school, and beyond.
### Understanding Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Alongside colleagues, we conducted a national survey of more than 240 UK parents. The results highlight a stark reality for families of children with DCD. Despite affecting around 5 per cent of children—making it as common as ADHD—DCD remains underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and insufficiently supported.
Parents reported an average wait of nearly three years for a diagnosis. Alarmingly, almost one in five children showed clear signs of DCD but had not yet begun the diagnostic process. When the diagnosis finally comes, it is often welcomed: 93 per cent of parents said it helped explain their child’s difficulties and provided much-needed clarity. However, many expressed frustration that this recognition rarely translated into practical support, especially in schools.
As one parent put it:
*“It is helpful for us at home but not at school.”*
### The Daily Impact of DCD
The movement difficulties associated with DCD ripple through everyday life and affect mental health and wellbeing. Children with DCD face daily physical struggles with tasks such as eating, dressing, cutting with scissors, and handwriting. These are not merely inconveniences—they lead to fatigue, frustration, and often social exclusion.
Compared to national averages, children in our survey were less active, with only 36 per cent meeting recommended physical activity levels. Many parents worry that early disengagement from sport and physical activity could develop into lifelong habits detrimental to their children’s health.
### Emotional and Social Challenges
The emotional impact of DCD is just as severe. A staggering 90 per cent of parents expressed concern about their child’s mental health, with anxiety, low self-esteem, and feelings of isolation being common issues. Children with DCD are significantly more likely than their peers to experience emotional and peer-related difficulties.
One parent recalled their child asking,
*“Why do I even try when I’m never picked?”*
Others shared heartbreaking concerns, such as a child feeling they *“don’t belong here”* or internalizing the belief that they are *“stupid or terrible.”*
### A Lifelong Condition with No Cure
DCD is a lifelong condition—it does not go away with age, and there is currently no cure. However, with the right support, many children can develop strategies to manage their difficulties and thrive. Early intervention and tailored therapies, especially occupational therapy and physiotherapy, alongside appropriate classroom accommodations, can make a significant difference to a child’s confidence, independence, and overall quality of life.
### Schools Are Often Unprepared
Our survey revealed that although 81 per cent of teachers were aware of a child’s motor difficulties, fewer than 60 per cent had individual learning plans in place. Support was inconsistent: some children benefited from teaching assistants or adaptive tools like laptops, while others struggled alone.
Physical education presented particular challenges. Forty-three per cent of parents said their child was not supported in PE lessons—often due to a lack of teacher understanding about DCD. The consequences are significant: 80 per cent of parents felt that movement difficulties negatively impacted their child’s education, and the same number feared it would affect their future employment prospects.
### Therapy Helps, But Access Is Difficult
Most families sought therapy, with occupational therapy proving transformative for some children. Yet many faced long waits or had to pay out-of-pocket, with some spending thousands annually. Even when therapy was available, 78 per cent of parents felt it was insufficient.
### The Impact on Families
The effects of DCD extend beyond the children themselves. Sixty-eight per cent of parents reported constant emotional concern, and nearly half said the condition restricted their ability to participate in normal family activities.
### What Needs to Change
To improve outcomes for children with DCD, urgent and coordinated action is needed across five key areas. Parents and experts involved in the report outlined clear recommendations to better support children facing these challenges.
Children with DCD are bright, capable, and full of potential. But as one parent warns,
*“If she can’t write her answers down quickly enough in exams, she won’t be able to show her knowledge.”*
The cost of neglecting this condition is high—not only in lost grades or missed opportunities but in the wellbeing of a generation of children struggling in silence.
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**Authors:**
Charikleia Sinani – Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, School of Science, Technology and Health at York St John University
Greg Wood – Reader in Sensorimotor Control at Manchester Metropolitan University
Kate Wilmut – Professor of Psychology, School of Psychology, Social Work and Public Health at Oxford Brookes University
https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/health-and-families/what-is-dyspraxia-dcd-meaning-symptoms-adhd-b2831003.html