Co-Occurring Disorders
Your Beautiful Brain
Brains are beautiful. This mass of tissue beneath our skulls may only weigh around three pounds, but it is one of the human body’s largest and most complex organs. It is made up of more than 100 billion nerves that send messages between junctions known as synapses. This interconnected pathway of neural networks is as excellent as it is mysterious.
As command central, it is the brain’s job to control the body’s functions. It sends and receives messages, gathering and interpreting sensory information from within and outside of the body. What we hear, taste, touch, smell, see, feel, think, recall, and do are all the results of these messages.
As with a commuter train schedule, if the train exits and returns to the station on time, making proper connections along each route without any hiccups, we often fail to consider the wonder of its work.
But if our train is delayed, or worse never reaches the station? We sit up and take notice.
Which conditions co-occur with DCD (Dyspraxia)?
It is not uncommon for an individual with Developmental Coordination Disorder to also experience at least one other thinking or learning difference. This concept is known as comorbidity.
Below are some of the conditions that can co-occur with DCD:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – Out of all of the below-mentioned conditions, ADHD is the most common co-occurring disorder. Approximately, 50% of individuals with DCD also experience ADHD.
Autism – The University of Texas at Arlington researcher and DCD expert Dr. Priscila Tamplain notes that DCD and Autism have similarities, but also sharp differences. In her 2017 study, she recommended individuals diagnosed with Autism be evaluated for DCD due to the overlap of symptoms and possible co-occurrence.
Emotional Regulation – Children with DCD may experience difficulties with emotional regulation. Mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression can also co-occur.
Executive Dysfunction – A study published in the medical journal, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, noted executive function impairments in children with DCD.
Sensory Processing Disorder – With Sensory Processing Disorder, individuals may be over-responsive or under-responsive to stimuli in their environment causing them to squirm or fidget as they cope with the discomfort. DCD often contains a sensory processing component as a child’s ability to balance and self-coordinate are greatly impacted by his or her vestibular and proprioceptive sensory systems.
Specific Learning Disorders – There is also evidence to support some co-occurrence of DCD with Specific Learning Disorders (the diagnostic term) or Specific Learning Disabilities (the legal term), specifically Dysgraphia, but also possibly Dyscalculia or Dyslexia.
Speech and Language Disorders – Speech and Language Disorders are also highly likely to co-occur with DCD, specifically Childhood Apraxia of Speech. (A Canadian study estimated the possibility as high as 49%.) Children may experience difficulty with the acquisition and use of spoken and written language (Language Disorder) or persistent difficulty with speech sound production (Speech Sound Disorder).
It is important to note that the symptoms of one disorder may mimic, mirror, or mask the symptoms of the other. For example, due to balance and coordination problems kiddos with DCD may struggle with sitting upright in a chair or sitting still in general. They may be in constant motion in order to keep their bodies in an upright position. While these conditions can co-occur, it is also easy for this behavior to become mislabeled as ADHD. Proper assessment is key in determining correct diagnoses in order to find effective treatment, supports, and intervention.
Assessment
Evaluations for all the above conditions vary. An assessment for DCD is different than evaluating for specific learning disorders or speech and language disorders. Work closely with your child’s pediatrician to discuss all areas of concern such as symptoms, deficits, and delays. As a parent, no one knows your child better than you! The more information you can provide, the better you can narrow your search for finding the appropriate diagnosticians, resources, and interventions.
This website is not a professional counseling website and nothing here should be construed as professional counseling advice. Although Kimberly Bennett, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor, she is not your counselor, and no counselor-client relationship is established unless she has signed an agreement with you. All information provided through this website is for informational and educational purposes only. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement. Thanks for visiting! This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure statement. Thanks for visiting!
