Motor Planning Difficulties
ICD-11 Classification for Motor Planning Difficulties
Motor planning difficulties are a functional descriptor, not a standalone ICD-11 term. They map to ICD-11 6A04 Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder within the neurodevelopmental disorders block, with praxis-related limitations also codable under the WHO ICF functioning lens.
Clinicians searching ICD-11 for "motor planning difficulties" won't find that exact phrase — but the construct maps cleanly onto a recognised code.
In short
Motor planning difficulties — the impaired ideation, sequencing and execution of novel, coordinated movement despite adequate strength, tone and sensation — are not a standalone ICD-11 term but a functional descriptor that maps to Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder, ICD-11 code [6A04](https://icd.who.int/), within the neurodevelopmental disorders block. The praxis-specific phenomenon often labelled dyspraxia is captured here when coordination performance falls substantially below age expectation and materially affects daily functioning. ICD-11 classifies it as a disorder of coordination acquisition, not a marker of intelligence or effort.The classification, precisely
Within ICD-11's neurodevelopmental disorders grouping, 6A04 Developmental motor coordination disorder is defined by a significant delay in the acquisition of gross and fine motor skills, with motor performance below that expected for chronological age, onset in the developmental period, and exclusion of attributable neurological, intellectual, sensory or musculoskeletal conditions. Motor planning (praxis) — ideation, organisation and sequencing of unfamiliar motor acts — sits within this construct; difficulties may also be coded descriptively under the functioning lens using the WHO ICF where activity and participation limitations are the clinical focus. Where motor-planning concerns co-occur with autism (6A02), ADHD (6A05) or specific learning disorders (6A03), code each comorbidity per its own criteria rather than subsuming them.When to refer
Refer for structured developmental-motor assessment when a child shows persistent clumsiness, difficulty learning new motor sequences, poor handwriting or self-care motor tasks, or activity limitation disproportionate to strength and tone — particularly if functioning at home, in play or at school is affected.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an online form or this explainer. Our clinician-administered structured assessment profiles motor planning alongside the other developmental domains, so a precise ICD-11 mapping translates into a workable plan. Explore occupational therapy for praxis support, see how the AbilityScore is established, or start [here](/).Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (neurodevelopmental disorders, 6A04); WHO International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for activity and participation coding.Next step — Refer a child with persistent motor-coordination concerns for a Pinnacle clinician-led developmental assessment.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
Persistent clumsiness, difficulty learning new motor sequences, poor handwriting or self-care motor tasks, and activity limitation disproportionate to muscle strength and tone.
Try this at home
When documenting, pair the ICD-11 6A04 code with an ICF activity/participation descriptor — it captures the functional impact that a diagnostic label alone does not.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
Does ICD-11 have a specific code for motor planning difficulties?
No. "Motor planning difficulties" is a functional descriptor rather than a discrete ICD-11 term. It maps to 6A04 Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder within the neurodevelopmental disorders block, with praxis-related activity limitations additionally codable using the WHO ICF.
Is dyspraxia the same as ICD-11 6A04?
The praxis phenomenon often labelled dyspraxia is largely captured by 6A04 Developmental Motor Coordination Disorder when coordination performance falls substantially below age expectation and affects daily functioning, with neurological, intellectual and sensory causes excluded.
How are co-occurring conditions coded?
Where motor-planning concerns co-occur with autism (6A02), ADHD (6A05) or specific learning disorders (6A03), each comorbidity is coded against its own ICD-11 criteria rather than being subsumed under 6A04.