Developmental Coordination Disorder - Questionnaire (DCDQ)

The DCDQ is a parent-completed screening tool for coordination difficulties in children. Parents are asked to compare their child with other children of the same age — not against a milestone chart — which is what makes the screen practical for families to complete.

Fifteen items are rated on a five-point scale and sort into three areas: control during movement (catching a ball, running, avoiding bumping into things), fine motor and handwriting, and general coordination (speed, fatigue, and how easily new motor skills are learned). Cut-off scores differ by age band, giving a result of indication of DCD, suspected DCD, or probably not DCD. It is a screen: a positive result points toward fuller motor assessment, not a diagnosis.

Licensing Notes: The questionnaire, manual, and scoring instructions are posted for free download at dcdq.ca. The site carries a copyright notice and translations are coordinated through the developers.

Learn More: Two versions circulate. The original DCDQ (1999) has 17 items in four factors and covers ages 8 to 14.6. The current DCDQ'07 has 15 items in three factors and covers 5 to 15. Cut-offs differ across three age bands (5–7, 8–9, 10–15), so a total score cannot be interpreted without knowing the child's age. Overall sensitivity is about 85% with specificity around 71%.