What is Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)?

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the development of motor coordination. People with DCD may have difficulty learning and performing coordinated movements, even though there is no single medical condition (such as a muscle disease) that fully explains the motor challenges.

DCD can affect:

• Gross motor skills (running, jumping, ball skills, balance)

• Fine motor skills (handwriting, scissors, buttons, shoelaces)

• Motor planning (learning new movement sequences)

• Everyday tasks (dressing, cutlery use, packing a school bag, organising body movements in space)

DCD is common and often co-occurs with other neurodevelopmental profiles (e.g., ADHD, learning differences). Support is individualised and focused on functional outcomes.

Common Signs and Functional Challenges

DCD can look different from person to person. Some common indicators include:

Gross motor signs

• Poor balance, frequent tripping or bumping into objects

• Difficulty with playground skills (climbing, swinging, jumping)

• Awkward or inefficient running, hopping, skipping

• Difficulty catching/throwing/kicking balls

• Fatigue with physical tasks or avoiding sport due to confidence
  
  

Fine motor and school participation signs

• Slow, effortful handwriting; difficulty forming letters

• Trouble with scissors, colouring, or pencil grip control

• Difficulty managing buttons, zips, shoelaces

• Messy or disorganised work due to motor load and planning demands
  
  

Daily living and independence signs

• Difficulty with dressing routines, cutlery use, or grooming

• Takes longer than peers to learn self-care tasks

• Frustration, avoidance, or reduced confidence around “motor” tasks

If these challenges are affecting participation at school, home, sport, or social activities, assessment can clarify strengths, needs, and the best support plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes DCD?

The exact cause is not fully understood. DCD is considered a neurodevelopmental condition involving differences in how motor skills develop and are coordinated by the nervous system. It is not caused by laziness or poor motivation.

How is DCD diagnosed?

A formal diagnosis is usually made by a medical practitioner (often a paediatrician) and/or psychologist, using standard diagnostic criteria and evidence that motor difficulties significantly affect daily functioning. OT and Physio assessments often provide functional information to support the diagnostic process and therapy planning.

Can DCD improve with therapy?

Many people make meaningful improvements in function, participation, and confidence with goal-based therapy and consistent practice. DCD may remain a lifelong profile for some people, but therapy can significantly improve independence and reduce day-to-day impact.

Is DCD related to ADHD or autism?

DCD can co-occur with ADHD and autism, but it is a distinct condition. Supports may overlap (e.g., OT strategies), but assessment helps clarify the most helpful therapy plan.

Is therapy for DCD covered by the NDIS?

DCD-related supports may be funded for some participants depending on disability impacts, goals, and plan details. Palms supports self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants. Funding decisions are made by the NDIA and are based on each person’s plan and circumstances.

How Palms Can Help

Palms focuses on evidence-informed, goal-based therapy that targets real-life function.

Occupational Therapy for DCD

Our Occupational Therapists can help with:

• Fine motor skill development (handwriting, scissors, tool use)

• Self-care routines (dressing, shoelaces, lunchbox skills)

• Motor planning for multi-step tasks (sequencing, organisation strategies)

• Environmental supports (set-up, equipment, visual prompts)

• Fatigue and confidence strategies to support participation

OT is often highly practical and may involve school-related tasks, home routines, and everyday independence goals.

Physiotherapy for DCD

Our Physiotherapists support:

• Balance, postural control, and coordination

• Strength and endurance to support participation

• Gross motor skill development (running mechanics, jumping, hopping, playground skills)

• Sport and activity participation goals (graded exposure, skill-building, confidence)

Physio sessions are active and functional—focused on helping the child/adult do the things that matter.

Exercise Physiology for DCD (when appropriate)

Exercise Physiology may help when goals include:

• Building general fitness and movement confidence

• Increasing tolerance for activity (endurance, strength, routine)

• Supporting a graded approach for those who avoid activity due to fatigue or low confidence

Exercise physiology is not always required for DCD, but can be helpful depending on the client’s goals and age.

Speech Pathology and DCD (only when relevant)

Speech Pathology may be appropriate if there are co-occurring communication needs, or if a person has oral-motor and feeding/swallowing concerns requiring speech pathology assessment.

Not everyone with DCD needs speech therapy—this depends on the individual profile.

Our Therapy Spaces

Kids Therapy Gym

Our kids therapy gym supports gross motor development through engaging, play-based movement tasks (climbing, swinging, balance, jumping), aligned to therapy goals.

Sensory Room

Some children with DCD also experience sensory processing differences that can affect regulation, body awareness, attention, and confidence in movement. Where appropriate, OT may use the sensory room as part of a broader functional therapy plan.

Assessment and Therapy Approach at Palms

Initial Assessment

We start with a thorough assessment that may include:

• Developmental and functional history (home, school, sport, daily living)

• Observation of motor planning, balance, coordination, and fine motor skills

• Identifying strengths, barriers, and participation impacts

• Collaborative goal setting with the family/client (and school input with consent)
  
  

Individualised Plan

Therapy planning is tailored and may include:

• Task-specific practice (skills the person needs in daily life)

• Graded progressions (building success step-by-step)

• Home strategies that are realistic and easy to use

• School collaboration where helpful and with consent

Access DCD Therapy

If you’re seeking support for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/dyspraxia) in Perth, our team can help with practical assessment, clear goal planning, and evidence-informed therapy to support everyday skills and confidence.

Our Sensory Room and Kids Therapy Gym

Sensory Room

Our sensory room can be used (when clinically appropriate) to:

• Explore sensory preferences safely

• Support regulation strategies

• Practise functional participation skills (attention, transitions, tolerance of sensory input)
  
  

Kids Therapy Gym

Our kids gym allows therapists to work on:

• Gross motor skills (climbing, jumping, balance, coordination)

• Core strength and movement confidence

• Play-based therapy goals within an engaging environment
  
  

Early Intervention and Family-Centred Support

Early support can be helpful for building communication, play, regulation, daily living skills, and participation. That said, support is valuable at any age, and goals should be realistic, functional, and aligned with the child and family.

We prioritise:

• Practical strategies you can use at home

• Collaboration with educators and support teams (with consent)

• Consistent goal review and measurable progress tracking where appropriate
  
  

NDIS & Funding Support

We support self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants (and private clients). Therapy recommendations aim to inform support needs and planning, noting that NDIS funding decisions are made by the NDIA.

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.