The adult developmental coordination disorders/dyspraxia checklist – German: adapted factor structure for the differentiation of DCD and ADHD

Abstract

BackgroundThe Adult Dyspraxia/DCD Checklist (ADC) is the only existing self-report questionnaire to screen adults for potential Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). It was developed in English and Hebrew, however, its factor structure has not yet been assessed. AimsThe goals of the current study were to (1) develop and refine a German translation, (2) explore the emerging factors in a new and restructured ADC in German and apply this structure to an English ADC, and (3) explore its potential for distinguishing DCD versus ADHD. MethodIn a series of three studies, we assessed comprehensibility of the translation and revisions to the questionnaire. We further examined subscale structure in a sample of N = 148 individuals with DCD or ADHD and retested it in an English-speaking sample (N = 134). ResultsOverall, we found decent reliability and construct validity for the German ADC. Three components emerged with themes of fine motor coordination, gross motor coordination, and executive functions which had strong psychometric properties in German and English. ConclusionsThe studies collectively highlight the German translation is effective and has strong potential to differentiate DCD and ADHD. Most notably, there are unique symptom profiles in motor and executive functioning difficulties in adults with DCD or ADHD. What this paper adds?The translation and preliminary validation of the German ADC in this study has the potential to screen for probable DCD in German-speaking adults for the first time. In addition, the new subscale structure can be generalized to the English version as well and allows for the potential assessment of several key symptomatic patterns in the realms of gross motor, fine motor, and executive functioning skills that differ between adults with DCD and ADHD. These differences were fairly consistent between English- and German-speaking samples, indicating potential for more widespread assessment and differentiation of DCD and ADHD.