DYSPRAXIA

Introduction

Dyspraxia takes its name from two Greek words meaning "ill", or "abnormal doing". One dictionary definition is "an impaired ability to perform deliberate actions".

The patient with dyspraxia appears "clumsy' and both fine and major body movements may lack finesse. Dyspraxic children may frequently be recognised by the spindly appearance of the arms and legs, and their unnatural positioning. The hands may be drawn up under the chin.

The development of speech is often impaired and the use of language may be delayed or disordered. Although most children with dyspraxia are of normal intelligence, a few are of reduced mental ability An uninformed public ascribes backwardness to many patients.

The condition is not rare, and some authorities think as many as 10% of the population has some degree of dyspraxia. Historically, the condition has been poorly identified and diagnosis is frequently delayed until late childhood or even adulthood. This results in severe educational and social deprivation for the dyspraxic child and years of unnecessary distress for the parents.

The early recognition of dyspraxia means that a child's special educational and social needs can be identified, and remedial action taken, to reduce the effects of this disabling affliction on the whole family.

Although the causes of dyspraxia remain a mystery, it is known there are no visible changes in the brain. The condition manifests itself as a failure of parts of the brain to develop at the usual rate, so that those regions responsible for conscious movements of the body remain immature.

All children suffering from dyspraxia have special educational needs.