title: Attention during functional tasks is associated with motor performance in children with developmental coordination disorder: A cross-sectional study.
abstract: This cross-sectional and exploratory study aimed to compare motor performance and electroencephalographic (EEG) attention levels in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and those with typical development, and determine the relationship between motor performance and the real-time EEG attention level in children with DCD.Eighty-six children with DCD [DCD: n = 57; DCD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): n = 29] and 99 children with typical development were recruited. Their motor performance was assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and attention during the tasks of the MABC was evaluated by EEG.All children with DCD had higher MABC impairment scores and lower EEG attention scores than their peers (P < 0.05). After accounting for age, sex, body mass index, and physical activity level, the attention index remained significantly associated with the MABC total impairment score and explained 14.1% of the variance in children who had DCD but not ADHD (P = 0.009) and 17.5% of the variance in children with both DCD and ADHD (P = 0.007). Children with DCD had poorer motor performance and were less attentive to movements than their peers. Their poor motor performance may be explained by inattention.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong Department of Physical Therapy, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Department of Social Work and Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Heep Hong Society, Ngau Tau Kok, Hong Kong Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Centre for Sports and Exercise, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Shirley S M
authors.initials: SSM
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: Joanne W Y
authors.initials: JWY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Yoyo T Y
authors.initials: YTY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Timothy T T
authors.initials: TTT
authors.lastname: Yam
authors.forename: Hsiu-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Daniel Y T
authors.initials: DYT
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Lily
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: Esther Y T
authors.initials: EYT
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Yeung Sam
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Shamay S M
authors.initials: SSM
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance