Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia, known officially as developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), affects a person’s movements and coordination. It is a neurological, motor planning disorder and symptoms of dyspraxia may at first be considered to be clumsiness. A child with dyspraxia may seem to have underdeveloped motor skills for their age. They may also have difficulty with their perception which affects how they interpret what they see, hear, feel and sense.

Symptoms of dyspraxia are very varied but typically include difficulties with carrying out movements or actions, such as running, a lack of co-ordination, and cognitive difficulties (e.g. with short term memory, concentration, etc).

Dyspraxia is usually noticed and diagnosed during early childhood, and children with dyspraxia usually go on to become adults with dyspraxia. There is no cure for the condition but there are dyspraxia treatments available, usually in the form of therapies, which provide ways to help a person live well with the condition.

Dyspraxia may affect a person’s life, mobility and abilities to some degree, but this will differ from person to person. Everyone with dyspraxia will have a unique experience of the condition.

Dyspraxia sometimes runs in families, but a specific gene for the condition has not been identified. It is more common in boys compared to girls, and is linked to other conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD and autism.

For more information on dyspraxia, visit the NHS website.

Experts are not yet clear what causes dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is neurological in that it is thought to be caused by an abnormality in the brain, but it is not yet clear what this abnormality is. Some of the difficulty in finding what causes dyspraxia is made harder by processes involved in the body that enable movement and senses, which are very complex. Research suggests that a child with dyspraxia has under-developed neurones in the brain.

The types of dyspraxia may be oral, verbal, motor, idea or space related, as follows:

Diagnosis of dyspraxia can take some time, and the earlier the condition is diagnosed, the better for the child. A child with dyspraxia may have varied symptoms throughout their childhood, and these may continue to change through adulthood.

Such a long list of dyspraxia symptoms can sound negative, but there are lots of positive aspects of having the condition as well. For example, people with dyspraxia may be good at creative thinking, and have a good long term memory. Despite some of the challenges listed above, there are lots of ways for a child or an adult with dyspraxia to adapt to and manage their condition.

For more information about dyspraxia symptoms, visit the Dyspraxia Foundation website.

If you are concerned your child may be exhibiting signs of dyspraxia, or if you are an adult yourself and are concerned you may have the condition without knowing it, you should contact your GP. If your child is of school age, you could speak to their special educational needs coordinator initially as well. It may be useful to keep a log of symptoms and behaviours you are concerned about for when you visit your doctor. They will undertake an initial examination and ask about symptoms. They may refer you to a paediatrician if they think there may be a chance that the symptoms may be dyspraxia (or a related condition).

It is quite common for a child to not receive an official dyspraxia diagnosis until they are of school age, even if this has been suspected for some time, because it is difficult to test for dyspraxia in toddlers. Early diagnosis in childhood can really benefit a person and help them develop skills and abilities.

Dyspraxia affects everybody differently, so it is difficult to say what impact the condition will have on a child or adult’s daily life, or their family life. Some people have dyspraxia symptoms that are very challenging and these people may need lots of support, whereas other people may have milder symptoms that are easier to manage.

There are lots of ways to manage daily activities though to make life easier, and there are health and social care professionals who may be able to help. For example, an Occupational Therapist (OT) may be able to recommend different ways to do tasks, or equipment that may make tasks easier. A physiotherapist may be able to help a child (or adult) develop their physical movements, such as walking or running, by working on balance and coordination. If your child is living with dyspraxia, there are support services and learning programmes available.

If you are a parent or carer, it may help to read about other people’s experiences of living with dyspraxia, such as the Action Medical Research story and Dyspraxia Foundation’s positive stories.

There are special types of equipment available called daily living aids, which are designed to help people with health conditions or disabilities to undertake everyday tasks they may be having difficulties with. At NRS Healthcare, we are experts in daily living aids, and we have put together a list below of the types of dyspraxia aids that may help a child with the condition. We have arranged this according to the area or type of task that a person may have difficulty with due to their dyspraxia symptoms.

If you are unsure what aids for dyspraxia may help you or your child, Healthcare Pro has a team of Occupational Therapist Product Advisors who you can ask for advice. Contact them on 0345 121 8111 or email productadvice@healthcarepro.co.uk

There is no cure or medication treatments available for dyspraxia. Dyspraxia treatment therefore usually involves a variety of health and social care professionals, school and family, working together. Dyspraxia Foundation provides advice about who to contact for help. Children do not grow out of their dyspraxia, but the condition may change and a child can develop new skills and abilities as they grow older. Many parents adopt a task-focussed approach, dealing with specific tasks that are difficult by breaking them down, looking at ways to adapt them, and so on.

The NHS also provides information about treatments for dyspraxia.

Some children and adults with dyspraxia find exercising difficult due to balance and coordination difficulties. A physiotherapist may be able to help with this. Skills for action website has some helpful information about getting children with dyspraxia more involved in sport and exercise.

People with a dyspraxia diagnosis will benefit from eating a healthy, nutritious diet. This helps the body function. If you are a parent and want to know how to ensure your child has a healthy diet, the British Nutrition Foundation provides a wealth of information. The NHS also provides lots of tips on eating a balanced diet. Some people choose to take dyspraxia supplements such as omega-3, which is found in oily fish or available as a tablet or liquid. There is little evidence to confirm that this is effective at reducing symptoms.

People with dyspraxia are able to work and provide a range of skills and abilities in the workplace. Some people may need extra support to find employment or to manage their workload. Dyspraxia Foundation provides information for job seekers and employers.

Dyspraxic Adults Forum – an online community of adults with dyspraxia

Dyspraxic Teens Forum – an online community of teenagers and young adults with dyspraxia

Contact a Family – a charity that connects families living with various health conditions, enabling them to share experiences and mutual support

Dyspraxia Foundation – a UK charity that supports people affected by dyspraxia, providing lots of information about the condition, a helpline and local groups

Dyspraxia Foundation Youth – part of the Dyspraxia Foundation supporting people aged 13-25 years old, providing a helpline, Facebook group and downloadable factsheets

Dyspraxia UK – a specialist organisation providing Occupational Therapist assessments for children and adults who may have dyspraxia

NHS – source of medical information and advice on dyspraxia symptoms, causes and treatments