Do executive functions and gross motor skills predict writing and mathematical performance in children with developmental coordination disorder?

ABSTRACT

Aim: To examine whether executive functions, and gross motor skills were predictors for school performance in children with DCD, with risk for DCD (r-DCD), and with typical development (TD).Methods: Participants were 63 children with DCD (Mage = 8.70, SDage = .64), 31 children with r-DCD (Mage = 8.90, SDage = 0.74), and 63 typical development children (Mage = 8.74, SDage = .63). Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence, Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2, Test of Gross Motor Development-3, Oral Word Span in Sentences, Odd-One-Out, Go/No-Go, Hayling Test, Trail Making Test, Five Digits Test, and the Test of School Performance-II were utilized.Results: In DCD, processing speed (ß = -.42, p = .005), and auditory-motor inhibition (ß = -.36, p = .009), and auditory-verbal inhibition (ß = -.38, p = .023) predicted math performance; and auditory-motor (ß = -.40, p = .38) and visuospatial working memory (ß = -.33 p = .011) predicted writing performance. In r-DCD, auditory-motor (ß = - .67; p = .002) and visual-motor (ß = -.40; p = .040) inhibition predicted math performance; visual-motor inhibition predicted writing performance (ß = -.47; p = .015).Conclusion: Lower inhibitory control and visuospatial working memory scores affect children with DCD and r-DCD' school performance.