Based on
your description and the provided links, Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental
Coordination Disorder (DCD),
is a
hidden, lifelong physical learning difficulty that affects the planning and
execution of motor tasks.
It's
not caused by general intellectual impairment but rather by difficulty
in
the brain processing information needed for smooth and coordinated movements.
Key
characteristics include:
• Motor Skill Difficulties: Challenges with
gross motor skills (like running, jumping, balance) and fine motor skills
• (like writing, using utensils,
dressing, tying shoelaces).
• Coordination Problems: Difficulty with
coordination, balance, and spatial awareness.
• Sensory Processing Issues: Sensitivity to
sensory input (light, sound, touch) can sometimes be present.
• Speech and Language Difficulties: Some
individuals may experience speech difficulties like stuttering or issues with
articulation.
• Oral Motor Difficulties: Challenges with
mouth and tongue movements, affecting eating and sometimes speech.
• Impact on Daily Life: Affects a wide
range of activities, from personal care to academic tasks and social
participation.
• Not an Illness or Disease: It's a
neurodevelopmental condition.
• Can Co-occur with other conditions: Often
linked with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Autism.
Ben's
Situation and Needs:
• Ben's Mum's Concerns: Ben's Mum is
concerned because she sees his struggles that others might not,
• and the support being offered seems to
focus on his strengths rather than addressing his difficulties.
• She worries that his underlying needs are
not being met.
• Ben's Worries: Ben is anxious about
appearing "stupid" if he constantly asks for help, indicating a lack
of
• confidence and potential negative
self-perception due to his difficulties.
• Ben's Learning Profile: He can read and
write but struggles with comprehension and retention,
• highlighting a need for accessible
learning materials and strategies.
• Co-occurring Autism: His Autism will add
another layer of complexity to his needs, potentially affecting communication,
• social interaction, and sensory
processing.
What Sort
of Help Does Ben Need?
Based on
your account and general knowledge of Dyspraxia and Autism, Ben likely needs a
multi-faceted approach:
• Comprehensive Assessment: A thorough
assessment by professionals (Occupational Therapist, Educational Psychologist,
• Speech and Language Therapist) is
crucial to understanding the specific nature and extent of his Dyspraxia and
how it interacts with his Autism.
• Individualized Support Plan: A tailored
plan addressing his specific difficulties in motor skills, coordination,
comprehension,
• and any sensory or communication
challenges related to his Autism.
• Occupational Therapy (OT): To address his
motor skill difficulties, including fine motor skills (writing, using
tools),
• gross motor skills (coordination,
balance), and daily living skills (dressing, self-care).
• Speech and Language Therapy: If he has
speech or comprehension difficulties, a therapist can provide strategies and
support.
• Visual Aids and Accessible Information:
As you mentioned, easy reading materials, visual supports,
• and accessible information formats are
essential for his comprehension difficulties.
• Strategies for Learning and Memory:
Techniques to improve memory and understanding, such as breaking down tasks,
• using visual organizers, and
repetition.
• Assistive Technology: Exploring tools and
technology that can support his learning and daily tasks.
• Environmental Adjustments: Creating a
supportive and organized environment that minimizes distractions
• and sensory overload (considering his
Autism).
• Strategies for Anxiety: Addressing his
anxiety related to asking for help and potential frustration with his
difficulties.
• This could involve building his
self-confidence and providing positive reinforcement.
• Social Skills Support (Considering
Autism): If he has social communication challenges related to Autism,
• specific social skills
interventions might be beneficial.
• Understanding and Empathy from Others:
Educating those around him (teachers, peers, family)
• about Dyspraxia and Autism to
foster understanding and reduce potential misunderstandings.
What is
Concerning Ben's Mum and Why?
Ben's Mum
is concerned because:
• Lack of Recognition of Struggles: She is
the primary witness to his difficulties, which may not be apparent to others.
• Fear of Stigma: Ben's worry about
appearing "stupid" highlights the potential stigma associated with
needing help and the impact on his self-esteem.
• Misdirected Support: The support being
offered focuses on his strengths, which while positive, doesn't address the
underlying challenges that are hindering his progress and causing him anxiety.
• Unmet Needs: She likely feels that Ben's
core difficulties are being overlooked, preventing him from receiving the
targeted support he truly needs to thrive.
Dyspraxia
and Saliva Gland Cancer:
You rightly
point out that there is no direct link between Dyspraxia and
Saliva
Gland Cancer. However, your personal reflection on your lifelong struggles with
eating
and swallowing, alongside the discovery of the tumor, leads you to wonder
r\ if both
issues might have originated during your birth or early development.
This is a
natural personal reflection on your own health history.
Impact of
Dyspraxia on Mental Health:
You
accurately describe how the persistent difficulties associated with Dyspraxia
can lead to significant anxiety and depression.
The
frustration of struggling with tasks that others find easy, coupled with
potential misunderstandings from others, can take a toll
on
mental well-being. The need for proper tools, aids, and support is crucial in
mitigating these mental health challenges.
Early
assessment, diagnosis, and understanding of Dyspraxia are vital for individuals
of all ages.
Positive
Aspects of Dyspraxia:
You
highlight the positive side of Dyspraxia, including creativity, particularly in
some areas of IT.
Your
personal strengths in PowerPoint, word processing, creative writing, drawing,
and painting demonstrate this potential.
It's
important to recognize and nurture these strengths alongside addressing the
challenges.
The Hidden
Nature of Dyspraxia:
You
powerfully emphasize that Dyspraxia is a hidden physical learning difficulty.
Because
individuals with Dyspraxia can often walk and talk,
their
significant underlying challenges with coordination and motor planning can be
easily missed or misunderstood.
This can
lead to misinterpretations of their actions (e.g., being seen as clumsy or
intentionally spilling things) and a lack of appropriate support.
The
internal mental and physical effort involved in everyday tasks for someone with
Dyspraxia is often invisible to others.
Cause of
Dyspraxia:
You
correctly state that Dyspraxia is often linked to differences in brain
development rather than brain
injury or
stroke in the traditional sense. While acquired brain injuries can cause
similar motor coordination problems,
Developmental
Dyspraxia is present from childhood. The idea of one side of the body/brain
being "weaker"
can be a
way to understand the neurological differences affecting motor control.
Importance
of Early Intervention:
You rightly
stress the importance of early assessment and diagnosis to ensure timely access
to physiotherapy,
occupational
therapy, and other necessary support. The younger a person receives
intervention,
the better
the potential for developing coping strategies and improving skills.
Co-occurring
Conditions and Learning:
You
reiterate the link between Dyspraxia and conditions like Dyslexia and
Dyscalculia,
highlighting
the potential for multiple learning challenges. Despite these difficulties, you
emphasize that with the right support,
individuals
with Dyspraxia can lead fulfilling lives and continue to learn.
Conclusion:
Your
detailed and personal account provides a valuable insight into the complexities
of Dyspraxia,
the
challenges faced by individuals like Ben, and the crucial need for
understanding, appropriate support,
and
early intervention. Your advocacy for greater awareness and recognition of this
often-hidden condition is vital.
you’ve provided a concise and accurate summary
of Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder - DCD),
highlighting
its key characteristics and potential causes. Let's break down the information:
What is
Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder - DCD)?
• Developmental Coordination Disorder: You
correctly identify Dyspraxia as a disorder affecting movement and
coordination.
• Intelligence Not Affected: You accurately
emphasize that Dyspraxia does not impact intelligence, though it can slow down
task completion.
• Hidden Physical and Mental Learning
Difficulty: You highlight its hidden nature and its impact on both physical
(balance, coordination, grip, sports,
• driving) and mental (reading, writing
comprehension, math - similar to Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia) skills.
Cause:
You list
several potential contributing factors:
• Premature Birth: Being born before 37
weeks of pregnancy.
• Low Birth Weight: Being born with a lower
than average weight.
• Lack of Oxygen to the Brain: Hypoxia
during birth.
• Brain Injury or Trauma: Damage to the
brain.
• Unclear Genetic Link: The role of family
history is not fully understood.
• Maternal Substance Use: Drug or alcohol
use by the mother during pregnancy.
Treatment:
• Physiotherapy: You correctly identify
physiotherapy as a key treatment approach.
• The NHS link you provided offers further
information on DCD in adults.
Types of
Dyspraxia (Based on your Research and Experience):
You
categorize Dyspraxia based on the difficulties you've personally experienced:
• Motor Dyspraxia: Difficulty with gross
motor skills like jumping, skipping, running, and fine motor skills like
dressing.
• Verbal Dyspraxia (Speech Dyspraxia):
Difficulties with speech articulation.
• Oral Dyspraxia: Problems with the mouth,
throat, tongue, saliva control, and swallowing.
Personal
Overcoming and Persistent Challenges:
• Overcome Skills: You share a positive
example of overcoming difficulties with holding cutlery and cutting food.
• Lifelong Strengths and Weaknesses: You
acknowledge having lifelong strengths and weaknesses in literacy skills
• (reading, writing, spelling,
grammar,
• punctuation) but a consistent
weakness in math.
Key
Takeaways:
• Motor and Cognitive Impact: Dyspraxia
affects both physical coordination and cognitive skills related to
learning,
• particularly literacy and numeracy.
• Developmental Origin: It's a
developmental disorder, meaning it originates in childhood.
• Varied Potential Causes: Several factors
during pregnancy and birth are linked to an increased risk.
• Importance of Therapy: Physiotherapy is a
crucial intervention to improve motor skills.
• Individual Experiences: The specific
types and severity of Dyspraxia can vary greatly from person to person,
• as highlighted by your own experiences.
• Persistence of Challenges: While some
difficulties can be overcome, others may persist throughout life.
Your
summary provides a good, personal, and informative overview of Dyspraxia,
encompassing its definition,
potential
causes, treatment, different types,
and the
lifelong impact it can have on individuals.
Sources and
related content
Developmental
co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children - Symptoms - NHS
www.nhs.uk
Living with
Dyspraxia - unesco mgiep
mgiep.unesco.org
Preterm
Birth | Maternal Infant Health - CDC
www.cdc.gov
Developmental
co-ordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children - NHS
www.nhs.uk
Even
Mild Oxygen Deprivation at Birth Can Have Lasting Effects - Ankin Law
ankinlaw.com
Dyspraxia can be linked to Autism, and like many lifelong conditions, it’s often hidden. Because of this, people don’t always take it seriously. Dyspraxia can easily be misunderstood. For example, someone might spill a drink or knock something over and be seen as careless or clumsy — but there’s often a deeper reason behind it.
People with dyspraxia need understanding and support. Unless someone knows the person well — like family or close friends — it may not be obvious what they're going through. Dyspraxia is caused by differences in how the brain processes movements. Sometimes it results from a brain injury or stroke. It’s a bit like having a mild stroke where one side of the body and brain may be weaker.
In my case, it’s the left side that’s affected. For others, it might be the right side. This can make everyday physical tasks more difficult or slower. Things like sewing, sport, cooking, housework, even shopping, lifting, brushing teeth, tying shoelaces, and more can become a challenge.
Physical Challenges and Everyday Life
Dyspraxia affects balance, grip, and coordination. For example, I may only be able to carry one drink at a time because my one side is stronger than the other. This can also impact my ability to ride a bike, drive, or cross roads safely.
The earlier someone gets support like physiotherapy, occupational therapy, or muscle exercises, the better. Dyspraxia doesn’t stop someone from living independently or learning, but it may mean they take longer or need different approaches.
Mental and Learning Challenges
Mentally, dyspraxia can affect reading and writing, much like dyslexia. It may also link to dyscalculia (math difficulties) and dysgraphia (difficulty with handwriting). Here's more information:
People with dyspraxia are often creative and unique in their ways of thinking and problem-solving. But it’s important to understand that dyspraxia varies from person to person. No two people are exactly the same.
Types of Dyspraxia
There are different forms of dyspraxia:
Motor Dyspraxia – affects movement and coordination (e.g. dressing, chopping vegetables).
Verbal Dyspraxia – affects speech, such as speaking too loudly or quietly, or stuttering.
Oral Dyspraxia – affects mouth and tongue movements, which can make brushing teeth or eating tricky.
Useful links:
Thanks to better tools today, like electric toothbrushes and water picks, oral hygiene has become more manageable for many of us. I remember getting my first electric toothbrush on my 21st birthday — over 30 years ago!
My Personal Health Journey
Around the age of 4–7, my mum noticed a small lump on my neck. It didn’t bother me, and the GP at the time said to leave it. Years later, at 23, while working in an elderly care home, I started having difficulty swallowing. The lump had grown.
I was living in Oswestry, Shropshire at the time and sharing a flat with other young people with learning disabilities. One of our support workers took me to the GP again. It was 1992, and I had my first operation on December 6th.
The lump turned out to be cancerous, though it hadn’t spread. I needed to have lymph glands removed and underwent 15 days of radiotherapy. The treatment made me feel worse than the illness itself — but thankfully, I recovered.
Since then, I’ve had some trouble with food and drink occasionally going the wrong way due to scarring. It’s not every time, but sometimes I cough or choke while eating or drinking.
Ben’s Story
Take Ben, a 7-year-old diagnosed by an Occupational Therapist. His report showed that he struggled with tasks like doing up buttons and tying shoelaces. This is a typical example of how dyspraxia can affect children’s physical coordination.
Professional Life and Raising Awareness
I’ve worked at the University of Wolverhampton for over eleven years, lecturing professionals like nurses, social workers, paramedics, and OTs. I’ve helped raise awareness of learning disabilities and hidden conditions like dyspraxia.
What Dyspraxia Is and Isn’t
Dyspraxia isn’t an illness or disease — it’s a hidden, long-term physical learning difficulty. It may affect mental health too, due to the challenges and misunderstandings people face. But just because someone can walk and talk doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling in other ways.
I’ve lived with dyspraxia for 55 years — since birth. Back then, we didn’t know much about it. I was born very quickly and may have had a lack of oxygen to the brain. I was hyperactive and had epilepsy as a child, which returned when I was 31 and stopped when I was 43. I’ve always been lucky to have family support.
I strongly believe that early assessment and diagnosis are important so people can get the right help early on. But even later in life, understanding and support still make a huge difference.
Everyday Challenges and Emotional Impact
Tasks like doing up zips, dressing, or looking after a baby can be exhausting and frustrating. These physical struggles often lead to anxiety, which many people don’t see because dyspraxia is hidden.
What is Dyspraxia? Quiz
Dyspraxia
Awareness Quiz – Student Professionals
Slide
1 – Title Slide
- Title: Understanding Dyspraxia: A
Quiz for Student Professionals
- Subtitle: Test your knowledge and
learn key facts about Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Slide
3 – What Does Dyspraxia Affect?
· Fine motor skills: like
handwriting or using a knife and fork
· Gross motor skills: like
running, jumping, or catching a ball
· Planning and organization:
like remembering tasks or managing time
(Symbols:
pencil, shoes, calendar/clock)
Slide
4 – Quiz Instructions
- Choose the best answer for each
question.
- This quiz is not a
medical diagnosis.
- Learn, reflect, and discuss with
others!
Quiz
Questions
Slide
5 – Question 1: What are the main areas affected by dyspraxia?
a) Speech and language only
b) Motor skills, coordination, and potentially organizational skills ✅
c) Visual perception only
d) Hearing and auditory processing
Slide
6 – Question 2: True or False – Dyspraxia is a learning disability?
a) True
b) False ✅
(Note: It is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a specific
learning disability.)
Slide
7 – Question 3: Which of the following is NOT typically a challenge for people
with dyspraxia?
a) Writing legibly
b) Throwing a ball
c) Reading complex texts ✅
d) Learning to tie shoelaces
Slide
8 – Question 4: How might dyspraxia affect student professionals?
a) Only in physical tasks like typing
b) By affecting ability to organize tasks, manage time, and meet
deadlines ✅
c) By impairing communication
d) Only in social situations
Slide
9 – Question 5: What is the best thing to do if you think you might have
dyspraxia?
a) Ignore it
b) Seek a diagnosis and support ✅
c) Hide your difficulties
d) Just work harder
Some of the answers to the questions above may be on my post above or in the text on this post, if any are not on either feel free to look on refence elsewhere. Like I said on other quizzes as time goes on try to use less refences as most colleges, examine boards etc may not allow you to have refence near you on the day.
Questions to study from other refences, such as online, books, libraries etc.
Find out how life is for people with Dyspraxia if they have no support or the wrong support.
How can Dyspraxia affect people physically?
How can Dyspraxia affect people Mentally?
What type of strengths can people with Dyspraxia have?
What the career opportunities for people with Dyspraxia?
What areas do people with Dyspraxia need support?
How can they get the support they need?
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