What Do We Really Know About Motor Learning in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder?

There is a general consensus that developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is characterized by impaired motor learning skills. However, actual studies of motor learning in DCD are scarce and, above all, inconsistent. The aims of the present study were therefore to explore the presumed presence of a motor learning deficit among individuals with DCD and to provide a synopsis of the current literature on motor learning in DCD. We begin by defining DCD (etiology, neuropsychology, and brain bases), motor learning (measurement of learning, methods for promoting skill acquisition, scheduling, practice, retention, and feedback) and, of course, the link between the two, focusing on the issue of a possible motor learning deficit in DCD. We then discuss dominant hypotheses and suggest directions for future research in this domain, in the light of research conducted thus far. Particular attention is paid throughout to guide the choice of intervention approaches. © 2016, Springer International Publishing Switzerland.