Impact of Co-occurring Neurodevelopmental Conditions on Individuals with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Scoping Review

Existing reviews have focused on either the developmental coordination disorder (DCD) + attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group or the DCD + autism spectrum disorder (ASD) group alone. This review summarizes the literature on co-occurring ADHD, ASD, and specific learning disorder (SLD) in individuals with DCD, focusing on research characteristics, outcome measures mapped to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and functional profiles across co-occurring conditions. Systematic searches of MEDLINE, ERIC, CINAHL, and Web of Science identified studies published up to April 2026 comparing a DCD group with co-occurring neurodevelopmental condition groups or comparing co-occurring groups. The included studies involved DCD versus (vs.) DCD + ADHD, 37; DCD vs. DCD + SLD, 20 (all involving developmental dyslexia); DCD vs. DCD + ASD, 8; and comparisons among co-occurring groups, 3. Outcome measures were primarily classified within Body Functions and Activities and Participation domains. Emotional difficulties were most consistently reported in DCD + ADHD, whereas decoding, phonological processing, and reading difficulties were characteristic of DCD + SLD. Evidence regarding DCD + ASD was limited but suggested difficulties related to sensory processing and social cognition. Although overall motor performance was often comparable across groups, differences were more evident in movement-related functions, particularly postural regulation, suggesting differences in underlying motor control processes. Co-occurring ADHD, ASD, and SLD appear to be associated with distinct functional profiles in individuals with DCD rather than being uniformly associated with greater impairment severity. However, evidence remains limited for DCD + ASD and multiple co-occurring conditions, and little research has examined Body Structures, Environmental Factors, or Personal Factors. Future studies should adopt broader biopsychosocial perspectives incorporating these underrepresented ICF domains.