Published date: Dec 28 2017

Journal Title: Arab Journal of Nutrition and Exercise

Issue title: AJNE: Vol 2, No 3 (2017)

Pages: 139-151

DOI: 10.18502/ajne.v2i3.1218

Michalis Anastasiadisanastasiades.m@cytanet.com.cy

According to research 5-7% of the total school population face motor learning difficulties such as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). In addition to that, recent findings regarding comorbidity revealed that specific learning difficulties such as Dyslexia are very often co-exist with movement difficulties such as DCD. School environment seems to be an ideal setting for early identification, assessment and in-school intervention. Therefore, educators’ knowledge regarding DCD and their ability to identify and assess children with movement difficulties are crucial dimensions for an effective interventional management. The goal of the current paper was a review of the relative literature. The findings reveal that, without specific education, the educators have limited ability to recognize children with DCD. Furthermore, research has shown that well informed and educated educators can be very effective in identification and classification of students with movement difficulties. As a result, early intervention strategies can be developed and applied to help the students and their families. A review of the most commonly used identification instruments is also provided.

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