The Rate of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in Albanian Children Aged 5-10 and the Prevailing Learning Difficulties Encountered by Children Suspected of DCD and Typically Developing Children of this Age Group

Mirjeta  Cenaj; Keida  Ushtelenca; Blerina  Aliaj

doi:10.36941/jesr-2024-0080

Authors

Mirjeta Cenaj Sports University of Tirana, Faculty of Movement Sciences, Department of Education and Health, Albania *Corresponding Author
Keida Ushtelenca Sports University of Tirana, Faculty of Movement Sciences, Department of Education and Health, Albania
Blerina Aliaj Sports University of Tirana, Faculty of Movement Sciences, Department of Education and Health, Albania

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36941/jesr-2024-0080

Keywords:

Developmental Coordination Disorder, learning difficulties, school tasks, Albanian children

Abstract

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is generally defined as a condition that affects movement and coordination. In children aged 5-10 years, DCD can significantly impact various aspects of their lives, including academic performance and learning. DCD may be accompanied and connected with difficulties in cognitive skills, resulting in learning challenges, particularly evident in school subjects such as arithmetic, language, or overall literacy, in this way affecting and reducing academic performance and learning outcomes. The instrument used to collect the data of the study was a questionnaire addressed to parents in order to: identify the rate of children with suspect DCD within the age group of 5-10 and see where our country stands in comparison to other studies carried out in other countries; identify the learning difficulties of typically developing children and children with an indication of/ suspect DCD; see any significant differences between typical children and DCD suspect children as related to school settings and learning difficulties. After the statistical processing of the collected and filtered data it is identified that the total percentage of suspect DCD children is 9.3%, ranging from 2.3% - 21.1% at 12 different cities in Albania, and it is slightly higher in boys, 10% in boys vs. 8.6% in girls. Moreover, the results show that 'suspect DCD' children encounter most of the learning difficulties. Whereas, regarding the total number of our subjects we identified that children of this age group tend to take slightly more time to complete school tasks; they do not seem to like changes in daily routine/ environment; they also have difficulty understanding reading passages and tend to respond by repeating questions.

Received: 14 February 2024 / Accepted: 24 April 2024 / Published: 5 May 2024