Dyspraxia

Developmental Dyspraxia is a motor learning difficulty that can affect planning of movements and coordination. It does not affect intelligence and may be diagnosed separate from other sensory or motor impairments such as cerebral palsy.

The term comes from the word ‘praxis’, which means ‘doing or acting’ and the prefix ‘dys-’ simply means ‘difficulty with.’ In other words, dyspraxia is characterised by having difficulty getting your body to do what you want it to do.

Dyspraxia can be localised to particular skills e.g. Verbal Dyspraxia specifically affects speech and Fine Motor Dyspraxia often affects handwriting. However, many people will have traces of dyspraxia in their perception, language and thoughts, leading to more global difficulties with organisation and general functioning.

What are the signs? 

Symptoms are evident from an early age. Babies are often slow to achieve expected developmental milestones. Many children with dyspraxia fail to go through the crawling stages, preferring to 'bottom shuffle' and then walk. They usually avoid tasks which require good manual dexterity.



Preschoolers with dyspraxia may demonstrate some of these behaviours:

• Laterality (no established hand dominance)
  
• Bumps into people or objects and often falls over
  
• High levels of activity (fidgeting, swinging, tapping)
  
• Overly sensitive to certain stimuli (noise, tastes, textures on skin)
  
• Hands flapping when running
  
• Difficulty pedalling tricycle or using scooter
  
• Continued messy eating
  
• Avoidance of construction toys such as jig-saws, blocks or Lego
  
• Poor fine motor skills (trouble holding a pencil or scissors)
  
• Immature drawings
  
• Difficulties with pretend play and imaginative play
  
• Isolation within peer group - may prefer adult company.
  
• Poor concentration – tasks left unfinished
  
• Slow responses to instructions
  

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School aged children with dyspraxia may demonstrate some of these behaviours:

• Difficulty adapting to school routine
  
• Difficulties dressing and tying shoe laces 
  
• Difficulties co-ordinating a knife and fork
  
• Difficulties in Physical Education classes
  
• Messy handwriting
  
• Immature drawing and copying skills
  
• Slow task completion
  
• High levels of motor activity
  
• Wakefulness at night
  
• Tendency to become easily distressed or emotional
  
• Difficulty forming relationships with peers
  
• Use of literal language and difficulty following instructions
  
• Reporting physical symptoms such as headaches or feeling ‘sick’

Children with dyspraxia may become disaffected by their educational experience. Handwriting is often a particularly obvious area difficulty.

If you would like to discuss your child or learn more about dyspraxia, please contact us.