Comparison of cognitive failures and academic performance among the students with and without developmental coordination disorder

This study aimed at comparing the cognitive failures and academic performance between two groups of students with and without developmental coordination disorder. Therefore, fifty students diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder and fifty non-DCD students were selected from 12 elementary schools. Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ-25) and the grade average of students were used to measure the variables of the study. Results of the multivariate analysis of the variance (MANOVA) showed that DCD students have higher mean total scores of cognitive failures (P < 0.5) and lower academic performance (P < 0 > 001). Results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that cognitive failures explain 83% of the variance of the changes related to the symptoms of DCD in these students (P < 0.001) Results of the current study provide support for the cognitive failure and poor academic performance in DCD students. The results were similar to the results of the previous studies reporting that DCD students face more problems in the field of academic performance, cognitive and learning abilities as compared to their normal peers.