DEVELOPMENTAL DYSPRAXIA BY ANY OTHER NAME - ARE THEY ALL JUST CLUMSY CHILDREN

The recent introduction of the diagnostic category developmental coord ination disorder (DCD) (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1987, 1994), has generated confusion among researchers and clinicians in man y fields, including occupational therapy. Although the diagnostic crit eria appear to be similar to those used to define clumsy children, chi ldren with developmental dyspraxia, or children with sensory integrati ve dysfunction, we are left with the question: Are children who receiv e the diagnosis of DCD the same as those who receive the other diagnos es, a subgroup, or an entirely distinct group of children? This articl e will examine the theoretical and empirical literature and use the re sults to support the thesis that these terms are not interchangeable a nd yet are not being used in the literature in a way that clearly defi nes each subgroup of children. Clear definitions and characteristic fe atures need to be identified and associated with each term to guide oc cupational therapy assessment and intervention and clinical research.