Dyspraxia at a glance
Dyspraxia (also known as developmental coordination disorder – DCD) is a surprisingly common condition affecting movement and coordination in children and adults. It is a hidden condition which is still poorly understood.
Dyspraxia affects all areas of life, making it difficult for people to carry out activities that others take for granted. Signs of dyspraxia/DCD are present from a young age but may not be recognised until a child starts school – or even later in adulthood.
Signs of dyspraxia/DCD
Each person’s experience of dyspraxia/DCD is different and will be affected by a person’s age, the opportunities they have had to learn skills, environmental demands and the support/understanding shown by people around them. There are, however, some common signs of dyspraxia/DCD.
Movement
Difficulty coordinating large and small body movements is the main feature of dyspraxia/DCD. Physical signs of dyspraxia/DCD include the following:
Movements appear awkward and lack smoothness
Extra physical and mental effort is required to carry out movements that others manage easily
Poor spatial awareness means more trips, bumps and bruises.
Difficulty learning the movements required to carry out new practical tasks.
Difficulty transferring motor skills to new situations or activities.
Organisation and planning
Many people with dyspraxia/DCD have difficulty organising themselves, their equipment and their thoughts. Some also experience problems with attention, memory and time management. Many adults with dyspraxia/DCD say these difficulties present more of a challenge in their daily lives than their underlying movement difficulties.
Speech and language
Some people with dyspraxia/DCD have difficulty keeping up with conversations and there may be long, awkward pauses before they respond to a question or comment.
People with verbal dyspraxia have severe and persistent difficulty coordinating the precise movements required to produce clear speech. It is possible to have verbal dyspraxia on its own or alongside other movement difficulties associated with dyspraxia/DCD.
How many people are affected?
Dyspraxia/DCD affects around 5% of school-aged children. Around 2% of children are more severely affected.
Difficulties continue into adolescence and adulthood in most cases.
Males are more like to be affected by dyspraxia/DCD than females, but females are often older when their difficulties are identified.
Although dyspraxia/DCD is a unique and separate condition people will often (but not always) have another diagnosis too.
Identifying dyspraxia/DCD early means that a person’s physical, learning, social and emotional needs can be identified, and support provided to help them reach their potential.
What causes dyspraxia/DCD?
Dyspraxia/DCD is the result of a disruption in the way that messages are passed between the brain and the body. The cause of this disruption is not yet clear although being born early, having a low birth weight and a family history of coordination difficulties increases the likelihood of someone having the condition. Dyspraxia/DCD is not caused by brain damage, illness or injury.
In most cases, the cause of a person’s dyspraxia/DCD is not known. It’s likely that there isn’t one single reason to explain why a person’s movement skills are not as well developed as their abilities in other areas.
How would I recognise a child with dyspraxia/DCD?
The presence of many (although not all) of these signs might suggest that a child has dyspraxia/DCD:
Delay in acquiring early motor skills such as sitting, crawling, walking
Difficulty running, jumping, hopping, catching/throwing compared to other children
Movements appear awkward, slow, hesitant
Needs to be taught physical skills rather than picking them up instinctively
Frequently trips and falls
Poor pencil grip. Writing is slow and immature.
Difficulty getting dressed and using cutlery.
Poor understanding of spatial concepts such as on/under/over/in front of.
Difficulty keeping friends and judging how to behave in company.
Anxious and has low self-esteem.
Difficulty paying attention reacts to all stimuli without discrimination
Works better 1:1 or in a small group
Has difficulty following instructions
Has difficulty managing time.
Often loses things
How would I recognise an adult with dyspraxia/DCD?
The presence of many (although not all) of these signs might suggest that an adult has dyspraxia/DCD:
History of physical awkwardness as a child, but may have developed coping or avoidance strategies as an adult
Difficulty learning new motor skills or applying skills in a different or busy environment
Difficulty handling tools and equipment such as a tin opener.
Poor balance, tires easily.
Can produce lots of writing or neat writing, but not both at the same time.
Anxious and may avoid social situations where difficulties might be exposed
Poor organisation and time management skills.
Misses deadlines, late for appointments.
Awkward pauses before answering questions
Underachieves academically and in the workplace.
Original article in English:
Dyspraxia at a glance. www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
Davis approach to dyspraxia
Symptoms of dyspraxia arise due to the fact that a person does not have an adequate natural orientation and he literally does not see the world as other people see it. In other words, the natural focus in dyspraxics is not developed the same way as in other people.
Using the tools of self-control of attention (orientation) on the correction program, a person learns how he can focus in a different way. Gradually he begins to develop this new state of focus (orientation). For a dyspraxist, this is a completely new, mind-boggling experience! A person literally begins to see the world in a different way ...
Dyspraxia (as well as dysgraphia) by itself is quite rare. It usually accompanies either dyslexia, or Attention Deficit Disorder, or Autism Spectrum Disorder. And in order to get rid of the problems associated with clumsiness, special exercises are included into the main correction program.
Elena Nikulina 2022
Elena Nikulina, licensed DDAI (Davis Dyslexia Association International) specialist in the correction of dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hypo / Hyperactivity, and other problems in learning according to the author's method of Ronald Davis, methodologist RDAF (Ronald Davis Autism Foundation) to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Director of Dyslexia Correction and Support Centre, London, UK. www.fixdyslexia.com
For more information on how to correct dyslexia, ADD, and other learning problems, see Ronald Davies' The Gift of Dyslexia', 'The Gift of Learning', and 'Autism and the Seeds of Change: Achieving Full Participation in Life Through Davis' Approach to Autism. — Abigail Marshall (Author), Ronald Dell Davis (Author)
