Understanding DCD: Beyond Clumsiness
Why Neurodevelopmental Approaches Matter
Key Frameworks Guiding Our Practice
- Model of Human Occupation (MOHO): MOHO emphasizes the dynamic interaction between a person’s volition (motivation), habituation (routines), and performance capacity (physical and mental skills). According to MOHO, engagement in meaningful activities is essential for promoting health and well-being. We use MOHO to understand what motivates your child, identify their established habits and routines, and assess their current skill level. This information then guides the development of individualized interventions that foster engagement, promote skill development, and support the establishment of positive routines.</span>
- Occupational Adaptation: The Occupational Adaptation model highlights the importance of adaptation in promoting occupational competence. This model suggests that individuals adapt to challenges in their environment by generating new and effective responses. Our therapists use this model to help children with DCD improve their ability to adapt to everyday tasks and activities. By enhancing their adaptive capacity, we empower them to become more confident, competent, and independent in their daily lives.</span>
Kidstart Pediatric Therapy: A Personalized Approach
Our Approach Includes:
- Comprehensive Assessments: We use standardized assessments, such as the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2) and the DCD Questionnaire (DCDQ), to evaluate a child’s motor skills and identify areas of strength and weakness. These assessments are supplemented by clinical observations and interviews with parents and teachers.</span>
- Individualized Treatment Plans: Based on the assessment results, we develop customized treatment plans that target specific motor skills, sensory processing abilities, and executive functioning skills. Our treatment plans are designed to be engaging, motivating, and fun for children.</span>
- Sensory Integration Therapy: Many children with DCD also experience sensory processing difficulties, which can further impact their motor skills and overall functioning. We incorporate sensory integration techniques into our therapy sessions to help children better regulate their sensory input and improve their motor coordination.</span>
- Task-Specific Training: Task-specific training involves breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and then practicing these steps repeatedly. This approach helps children develop the motor skills and coordination needed to perform functional activities, such as writing, dressing, and playing sports.</span>
- Executive Function Training: Executive functions are higher-level cognitive skills that are essential for planning, organizing, and executing tasks. Children with DCD are at a higher risk of experiencing executive function deficits. We provide specific training and support to improve these critical skills.</span>
Collaboration is Key: We believe that collaboration is essential for achieving the best outcomes for children with DCD. We work closely with parents, teachers, and other professionals to create a consistent and supportive environment for the child.</span>