Article

Executive function impairments have been identified in children with poor
motor skills, with and without a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder
(DCD). However, most studies are cross-sectional.
This study investigates the
development of executive function in children with poor motor skills over 2
years. METHOD: Children aged 7 to 11 years (n=51) were assessed twice, 2 years
apart, on verbal and nonverbal measures of executive functions: executive-loaded
working memory (ELWM); fluency; response inhibition; planning; and cognitive
flexibility. Typically developing children (n=17) were compared with those with a
clinical diagnosis of DCD (n=17) and those with identified motor difficulties
(n=17) but no formal diagnosis of DCD. RESULTS: Developmental gains in executive
function were similar between groups, although a gap between children with poor
motor skills and typically developing children on nonverbal executive functions
persisted. Specifically, children with DCD performed significantly more poorly
than typically developing children on all nonverbal executive function tasks and
verbal fluency tasks at both time points; and children with motor difficulties
but no diagnosis of DCD showed persistent executive function problems in
nonverbal tasks of ELWM and fluency. INTERPRETATION: Children with DCD and motor
difficulties demonstrated executive function difficulties over 2 years, which may
affect activities of daily living and academic achievement, in addition to their
motor deficit. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Executive function difficulties in children
with poor motor skills persist throughout middle childhood. Children with motor
difficulties, without a developmental coordination disorder (DCD) diagnosis,
demonstrate less pervasive executive function difficulties than those with DCD.
Executive function problems in the groups with motor difficulties and DCD affect
mostly nonverbal domains. All groups showed similar developmental gains in
executive function.
CI - (c) 2017 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS