Long-term research shows that the movement difficulties experienced by children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) rarely disappear without specialized intervention. On the contrary, they tend to affect an increasing number of areas of the child’s life—from motor play to self-care, and from there to school activities and social relationships with peers. These difficulties begin in childhood and may persist into adulthood, preventing effective participation in everyday activities and influencing the individual’s choices.
When diagnosis is delayed, and consequently therapeutic intervention is also delayed, the initial motor difficulties often lead to secondary negative effects on the child’s life. Avoidance of physical activities (e.g., physical education, team games) may contribute to obesity, while at the same time, withdrawal from certain activities may make it more difficult for the child to develop social relationships with peers.
From the above, it is evident that motor difficulties will often inevitably be accompanied by social and emotional difficulties as well, such as feelings of failure and low self-esteem.