Dyspraxia Explained

DYSPRAXIA FOUNDATION

"Recognising developmental co-ordination disorders"  

Poem by Tom, ten years �old boy who was dyspraxia

The Challenge

�Everyone says I�m stupid but I know I�m not. I wish someone could understand what it�s like to be me. I feel so fed up and lonely.�

Sarah, an eight year-old girl who has dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is surprisingly common in both children and adults. It is a hidden condition, which is sill poorly understood.

The Dyspraxia Foundation is committed to making the teaching and medical professions more aware of dyspraxia; and to spreading understanding of how those who have the condition can be helped.

What is dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia is generally recognised to be an impairment or immaturity of the organisation of movement. Associated with this may be problems of language, perception and thought. Other names for dyspraxic include Clumsy Child Syndrome; Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD); Minimal Brain Dysfunction: Motor learning Difficulty; and Pereceptuo-motor Dysfunction. Problems include:

Perception

People who have dyspraxia tend to have poor understanding of the messages that their senses convey and difficulty in relating those messages to actions.

Thought

There may be difficulty in planning and organising thoughts.

Movement

Physical activities are hard to learn, difficult to retain and generalise, hesitant and awkward in performance.

Speech and Language

Speech may be immature or unintelligible in early years. Language may be impaired or late to develop.

For some children, the primary difficulty is in making and co-ordinating the precise movements, which are used in the production of spoken language, which results in severe and persisting speech production difficulties. The condition is termed developmental verbal dyspraxia: it may occur in isolation or in conjunction with general motor difficulties.

Up to 10 per cent of the population may show symptoms of dyspraxia; and 2 per cent are severely affected by the condition.  Of those diagnosed, 80 per cent are male.

Early recognition of dyspraxia enables a child�s special educational and social needs to be identified. Action can then be taken to reduce the impact of this condition on their whole family.

What causes dysprax ia?

For the majority of those with the condition, there is no known cause. Current research suggests that it is due to an immaturity of neurone development in the brain rather than to brain damage. People with dyspraxia have no clinical neurological abnormality to explain their condition.

How would I recognise a child with dyspraxia?

The pre-school child

 �         Is late in reaching milestones e.g. rolling over, sitting, standing, walking, and speaking.

 �         May not be able to run, hop, jump, or catch or kick a ball although their peers can do so.

 �         Has difficulty in keeping friends; or judging how to behave in company.

 �         Has little understanding of concepts such as �in�, �on�, �in front of �etc

 �         Has difficulty in walking up and down stairs. 

 �         Poor at dressing.

 �         Slow and hesitant in most actions.

 �          Appears not to be able to learn anything instinctively but must be taught skills.

 �         Falls over frequently.

 �         Poor pencil grip.

 �         Cannot do jigsaws or shape sorting games.

 �         Artwork is very immature.

 �         Often anxious and easily distracted.

The school age child

�         Probably has all the difficulties experienced by the pre-school child with dyspraxia, with little or no improvement.

 �         Avoids PE and games

 �         Does badly in class but significantly better on a one-to -one basis.

 �         Reacts to all stimuli without discrimination and attention span is poor.

 �         May have trouble with maths and writing structured stories.

 �         Experiences great difficulty in copying from the blackboard.

 �         Writes laboriously and immaturely.

 �         Unable to remember and /or follow instructions.

 �         Is generally poorly organised.

 Where can I go for help?

The Dyspraxia Foundation can help you to find sources of support in your area.  It publishes a range of leaflets, booklets and books on aspects of the condition � call 01462 454986.

 For pre-school children

Talk to you GP and Health Visitor: they can refer your child to a paediatrician or a Child Development Centre. The appropriate psychologist, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist or occupational therapist can then assess your child for dyspraxia.

 For school-age children

Talk to your GP, school nurse, school doctor or Special Needs Co-ordinator who can make referrals for assessments. Hospital referral may be required for special tests or treatment. There is useful information in the Department for Education and Employment�s booklet �Special Educational Needs: A Guide for Parents� � call 020 7925 5000/0131 222 2400 (Scotland) for a copy.

 For adults

Problems experienced in childhood may continue into adulthood. Initial contact should be made with your GP who may refer you to a clinical psychologist, consultant neurologist, physiotherapist or occupational therapist. The Foundation�s Adult Support Group may be able to help - call 020 7435 7891.

 What about the future?

Although dyspraxia is not curable, children with the condition may improve with growing maturity. Symptoms in children and adults can lessen if they are given appropriate treatment and advice on practical actions to minimise the day- to- day difficulties that their dyspraxia can cause. 

 What does the Dyspraxia Foundation do?

The Dyspraxia Foundation is a charity, founded in 1987 as the Dyspraxia Trust by two mothers who met at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children   in 1996 the charity changed its name to the Dyspraxia Foundation.

 The objects of the Dyspraxia Foundation are:

�         To support individuals and families affected by dyspraxia

�         To promote better diagnostic and treatment facilities for those who have dyspraxia.

�         To help professionals in health and education to assist those with Dyspraxia

�         To promote awareness and understanding of dyspraxia.    

Each year the Foundation answers approximately 10,000 enquiries and distributes more then 20,000 leaflets about the condition. The Foundation seeks every opportunity to increase understanding of dyspraxia, particularly among professionals in health and education.

�         The Foundation is run by a fewer than six full-time equivalent paid staff and is supported extensively by volunteers. Its work is funded entirely by voluntary donation and membership subscriptions.

  The Foundation

• Publishes leaflets, booklets, books and guides for parents, those who have dyspraxia and professionals.
• Organises conferences and talks about dyspraxia and related topics for parents, carers and professionals.
• Supports a network of local groups across the United Kingdom.
• Supports a group for adults who have dyspraxia.

      Membership

  Members of the Dyspraxia Foundation receive:

•  The opportunity to join a local support group

•  A magazine, published twice yearly

• Professional members receive an annual journal.

• The Annual Report

• Reduced rates for the Foundation�s publications and events