Validating motor delays across the developmental coordination disorder-questionnaire and the Vineland adaptive behavior scales (VABS) in children with autism spectrum disorderASD: A SPARK dataset analysis.
Give both the DCD-Q and VABS motor domain to every child with autism to catch 70 % more motor delays.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers looked at the kids with autism from the SPARK database.
They compared two parent checklists: the DCD-Q (motor delays) and the VABS motor domain.
Goal was to see if both tools flag the same children as having motor problems.
What they found
Both checklists agreed 81 % of the time.
Seven out of ten kids with autism scored low on BOTH tools.
Using just one tool would miss about 30 % of motor delays.
How this fits with other research
Morrison et al. (2017) showed parent reports match direct testing for language and fine motor skills.
Our study extends that finding to motor delays in autism.
Kremkow et al. (2022) reviewed digital games that screen for autism risk by watching how toddlers move.
Those apps are still experimental, while DCD-Q and VABS are ready to use today.
Together, the papers say: parent checklists work, digital tools are coming, and combining methods catches the most kids.
Why it matters
If you only use the VABS motor questions, you will miss roughly 3 in the kids who need OT.
Add the 8-item DCD-Q to your intake packet. It takes parents five minutes and gives you a second red flag.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Print the free DCD-Q and staple it to your VABS parent form.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Motor delays in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are being increasingly recognized using a brief screening tool, called the Developmental Coordination Disorder-Questionnaire (DCD-Q). Further validation of these motor delays using a more robust normed, developmental measure is clearly warranted. In this analysis, a nationally representative sample from the SPARK study was used wherein parents completed the DCD-Q and a more widely used developmental/adaptive functioning measure, called the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS); which comprises of various developmental domains including the motor domain (N = 2,644 completed the DCD-Q and VABS). Eighty two percent children with ASD had a motor delay based on their DCD-Q scores whereas 77% children with ASD had a motor delay based on their VABS motor domain scores. Approximately 70% children with ASD had concurrent motor delay on the DCD-Q and the VABS (i.e., positive predictive value of DCD-Q). Furthermore, there was 81.2% accuracy in reporting a risk/no risk of motor delay across both measures. Overall, these statistics align with the recent reports on proportions of children with ASD having motor delays. Parents of ~70% children with ASD are reporting motor delays that are corroborated across two different motor measures. This not only validates the motor delays reported based on the DCD-Q but also indicates the need for concurrent motor screening using both DCD-Q and VABS for better detection of motor delays in children with ASD. Only 10%-32% of the current SPARK sample received any physical or recreational therapies. This mismatch between presence of motor delays and the lack of access to motor services highlights the need for more motor intervention referrals for children with ASD.
Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2024 · doi:10.1002/aur.3189