Stakeholder review Sept 2026

Fragmented/variable care
Unclear clinical ownership
Lack of national guidance
Parent-parent support may be valuable
Parental awareness outpacing service capacity

#bacch #ARFID @commchildhealth.bsky.social

ARFID first formally recognised in 2013 in DSM V

Prevalence 3-15 (FIFTEEN!) % in primary school

0.5% across all ages.

#bacch

adc.bmj.com/content/earl...

Last talk of the day (after a great workshop with Dr Shankar) about vestibular medicine)

Dr Natasha Sauven: Working Across Teams: Building an ARFID Service in Cornwall

#bacch

LUNCH! #bacch

Q. What early interventions work?
A. Child needs to be motivated - this is the most crucial aspect

Also highlighted NEED for medical assessment, this is not optional

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

Q. Is there a link between hypermobility and DCD?
A. It's nuanced. If someone has a hypermobility disease/condition, they can't have DCD. BUT, children with DCD can be hypermobile!

#bacch

edu.eacd.org/clinical-pra...

#bacch

movementmattersuk.org/resources/

#bacch

How can we help?
Screen for motor history
Ask about participation
Explore school experience
Refer for assessment of DCD

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

DCD has an impact into adulthood

Mental wellbeing
Work life
Accidents
Earnings/career affected

It is a life-course condition

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

In DCD and autism, the significant of motor difficulties may not be considered beyond autism

Social participation is compounded

Lots of diagnostic overshadowing - from ASD, ADHD or mental health issues

The underlying impact of DCD remains unidentified

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

Up to half of chlidren with ADHD experience motor difficulties

Some will have comorbid DCD

Executive functioning more likely to be affected

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

Medical consequences include risk of long term heart disease:

Avoidance of physical activity can be lifelong

#bacch

Red flags in primary school:
Very slow handwriting
Difficulty dressing
PE avoidance
Falls and bumps
Lack of energy - due to using energy constantly
Friendship difficulties

@commchildhealth.bsky.social #bacch

Potential early developmental signs

Skips crawling/late walking
Delays in self care e.g. toothbrushing
Difficulty with tools e.g. scissors
Avoidance of gross motor play
Low tone/lax ligaments
Bumps and bruises

@commchildhealth.bsky.social #bacch

If missed, this can present in a variety of other ways, including anxiety

Masking all day is HARD WORK

Likely to attract criticism of their performance even if trying really hard

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

Why is DCD/dyspraxia hidden?

No obvious biological marker

Otherwise often very capable

Can be misinterpreted as:
Lazy
Careless
Clumsy
Oppositional
Anxious
Poorly motivated

#bacch @commchildhealth.bsky.social

Developmental Coordination Disorder is common - 5% of rhe population
Girls often missed - "perhaps less pressure on girls to demonstrate gross motor play"
Approx one child in every classroom

#bacch

Next: Dr Catherine Purcell: Seeing the Signs: Identifying Red Flags for DCD to Improve Life‑Course Outcomes

They are interested in motor skills and the impact of motor difficulties on lives

@commchildhealth.bsky.social #bacch

Q. Was there any feedback from CYP that children understood their health needs and their care plans?
A. Not through this questionnaire.

Q. How did you encourage feedback?
A. We used business cards, promoted at every intervention and had support from Foster Wales

#bacch