Hypermobility syndrome and developmental coordination disorder: Similarities and features

Abstract

Children with movement difficulties can follow a number of different pathways to reach a diagnosis. They may receive a diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) after being referred to an occupational therapist or paediatrician via school or parents, because of functional difficulties that impact on activities of daily living, such as dressing and feeding, or because of an impact on education, such as writing and ball skills. In contrast, children may present to rheumatologists or physiotherapists for joint pain, dislocation or late developmental milestones. These children may subsequently be diagnosed as having benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS). This article contrasts and compares functional difficulties between these two groups and considers whether BJHS could be associated with DCD. In addition, the article considers whether there is the potential for not diagnosing or misdiagnosing these children through lack of awareness by professionals and because of differing assessment routes. The data from this survey show that children with BJHS do have a range of functional difficulties similar to those with DCD, and discusses the implications of this for management by the different professionals involved, and the potential for further research.