What is Dyspraxia?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.