Child and adolescent psychiatry: developmental coordination disorder: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Child and adolescent psychiatry: developmental coordination disorder

Sample item

A 7-year-old with normal intelligence is notably clumsy, drops objects, cannot tie shoelaces or ride a bicycle, and has no neurological disease. Which diagnosis fits?

ADevelopmental coordination disorderBMild intellectual disabilityCSpecific learning disorderDCerebral palsy

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Developmental coordination disorder

Developmental coordination disorder is marked impairment of motor coordination, out of keeping with age and intelligence, that is not due to a neurological disease. Cerebral palsy would show neurological signs.

Option by option

A. Developmental coordination disorder (correct)
Correct. Coordination is impaired without neurological disease or low intelligence.
B. Mild intellectual disability
Intelligence is normal here.
C. Specific learning disorder
A learning disorder affects academic skills and not primarily motor coordination.
D. Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy shows abnormal tone and reflexes on examination.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is A, Developmental coordination disorder. Developmental coordination disorder is marked impairment of motor coordination, out of keeping with age and intelligence, that is not due to a neurological disease.

Why is "Mild intellectual disability" not the answer?

Intelligence is normal here.

Why is "Specific learning disorder" not the answer?

A learning disorder affects academic skills and not primarily motor coordination.

Why is "Cerebral palsy" not the answer?

Cerebral palsy shows abnormal tone and reflexes on examination.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Child and adolescent psychiatry: developmental coordination disorder in Psychiatry. Cerebral palsy would show neurological signs.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Child and adolescent psychiatry: developmental coordination disorder?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.