DEVELOPMENTAL DYSPRAXIA

What is it?

Dyspraxia is an immaturity of the brain resulting in messages not being properly transmitted to the body.

Who gets it?

It affects at least 2% of the population in varying degrees and 70% of those affected are male.

What are the symptoms?

These are some of the problems caused by dyspraxia:

• Clumsiness
• Poor posture
• Walk awkwardly
• Confused about which hand to use
• Difficulties throwing or catching a ball
• Sensitive to touch
• Find some clothes uncomfortable
• Poor short term memory, they often forget tasks learned the previous day
• Poor body awareness
• Reading and writing difficulties
• Cannot hold a pen or pencil properly
• Poor sense of direction
• Cannot hop, skip or ride a bike
• Slow to learn to dress or feed themselves
• Cannot answer simple questions even though they know the answers
• Speech problems, slow to learn to speak or speach may be incoherent
• Phobias or obsessive behaviour
• Impatience
• Intolerance to having hair or teeth brushed, or nails and hair cut
• Plasters are too uncomfortable to wear

Not all of these will apply to every dyspraxic, and many of these problems can be overcome in time, but also could be met by more problems.

Older children are usually very verbally adept and converse well with adults. They may be ostracised by their own peer group because they do not fit in. They may cleverly avoid doing those tasks that are difficult or even impossible for them.

Dyspraxics can be of average or above intelligence but are often behaviourally immature. They try hard to fit in to the socally accepted behaviour when at school but often throw tantrums when at home. They may find it difficult to understand logic and reason.

Not all dyspraxics have all of these problems, but all have a common link.

Many parents of normal children will say that their children have some of these problems but if your child is dyspraxic, either dignosed or not, you will know the difference between a normal child with any of these problems and a dyspraxic.

What is the treatment?

There is no cure for dyspraxia but the earlier a child is treated then the greater the chance of improvement. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists and extra help at school can all help a dyspraxic child to cope or overcome many difficulties. Sadly, a lot of the skills that we take for granted will never become automatic to a dyspraxic and they will have to be taught these skills.