title: Crossing the North Sea seems to make DCD disappear: cross-validation of Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 norms.
abstract: The Movement Assessment Battery for Children has been revised as the Movement ABC-2 (Henderson, Sugden, & Barnett, 2007). In Europe, the 15th percentile score on this test is recommended for one of the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). A representative sample of Dutch and Flemish children was tested to cross-validate the UK standard scores, including the 15th percentile score. First, the mean, SD and percentile scores of Dutch children were compared to those of UK normative samples. Item standard scores of Dutch speaking children deviated from the UK reference values suggesting necessary adjustments. Except for very young children, the Dutch-speaking samples performed better. Second, based on the mean and SD and clinical relevant cut-off scores (5th and 15th percentile), norms were adjusted for the Dutch population. For diagnostic use, researchers and clinicians should use the reference norms that are valid for the group of children they are testing. The results indicate that there possibly is an effect of testing procedure in other countries that validated the UK norms and/or cultural influence on the age norms of the Movement ABC-2. It is suggested to formulate criterion-based norms for age groups in addition to statistical norms.
authors.affiliation: Sint Maartenskliniek, Afdeling Research Development and Education, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Avansplus, University for Professionals, Heerbaan 14-40, 4817 NL Breda, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.niemeijer@mzh.nl.
authors.forename: Anuschka S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Niemeijer
authors.affiliation: Ghent University and Arteveldehogeschool, Campus Heymans 2B3, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: hilde.vanwaelvelde@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Waelvelde
authors.affiliation: Motor Control Laboratory, Research Center for Movement Control and Neuroplasticity, Dep. of Kinesiology, University of Leuven, De Nayer kamer 02.11, Tervuurse Vest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: bouwiensmits@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Bouwien C M
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Smits-Engelsman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007802:Language; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009426:Netherlands; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: Children; Cross-cultural validation; Motor assessment; Movement ABC-2