An Investigation of Gross Motor Milestone Achievement in Individuals With Developmental Coordination Disorder

The present study compared the age of achievement of 10 early gross motor milestones (lift head, roll back to belly, sit without support, crawl on hands and knees, stand with assistance, stand without support, walk with assistance, walk without support, climb stairs, and walk up/downstairs without support) of 111 school-age individuals diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). This was compared with previous and current expectations for milestones. Children with DCD achieved all milestones later when compared with previous expectations (all p < .05) except for “roll back to belly.” When compared with current expectations, children would have achieved “sit without support,” “stand with assistance,” and “walk without support” significantly earlier, but “lift head” and “walk with assistance” would have been achieved significantly later (all p < .05). The findings indicated that milestones were early indicators of developmental coordination disorder (DCD), for the present sample as the previous expectations were in place during their early development, but at current expectations, the same children would not be flagged for assessment and potential intervention. It is important to find other methods to determine motor delays in infancy and early childhood to support children who are later diagnosed with DCD.