Dyspraxia in Children

Many people recognise Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) as dyspraxia. This common condition primarily affects movement and coordination in both children and adults. It can also lead to a range of other difficulties. As a hidden type of neurodivergence, dyspraxia is often misunderstood.

Dyspraxia impacts every aspect of an individual's life, making everyday activities challenging. Early signs of dyspraxia can appear in childhood, but they may go unnoticed until the child starts school or even into adulthood.

Recognising Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia manifests differently in each person, influenced by age, learning opportunities, environmental demands, and support systems. Common difficulties for children with dyspraxia include:

• Motor Delays: Challenges with milestones like rolling over, sitting, standing, walking, running, jumping, and hopping.
• Fine Motor Skills: Struggles with tasks like dressing and eating neatly.
• Speech and Language Development: Delays in speaking and possible social communication issues.
• Social Interaction: Difficulty making and maintaining friendships or understanding social cues.
• Spatial Awareness: Poor understanding of concepts like 'in,' 'on,' and 'in front of.'
• Adaptability: Resistance to changes and a need for explicit teaching of skills rather than instinctive learning.

Common Signs of Dyspraxia

Movement:

Dyspraxia affects coordination of both large and small body movements. Signs include:

• Awkward, uncoordinated movements.
• Extra effort required for physical tasks.
• Poor spatial awareness leading to frequent trips and falls.
• Difficulty learning and applying new motor skills.

Executive Functioning:

Dyspraxia can impair executive functions, including:

• Working Memory: Challenges with holding and manipulating information in the short term.
• Cognitive Flexibility: Difficulty adapting to change and switching tasks.
• Inhibitory Control: Struggles with self-control and resisting impulsive behaviours.

Organisation and Planning: Many people with dyspraxia have trouble organising their belongings, thoughts, and schedules. Issues with attention, memory, and time management are common, and these challenges can be more disruptive than the movement difficulties.

Speech and Language: Some individuals with dyspraxia find it hard to keep up with conversations, resulting in long pauses. Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia (DVD) or Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a severe speech difficulty, may also be present.

Handwriting: Poor handwriting is a common indicator of dyspraxia. Practising with different pencil grips can help, but many individuals prefer typing.

Signs of Dyspraxia in Children:

The presence of several of these signs might suggest dyspraxia:

• Delayed motor skills such as sitting, crawling, and walking.
• Difficulty with activities like running, jumping, and catching compared to peers.
• Awkward, slow, or hesitant movements.
• Needs explicit teaching of physical skills.
• Frequent trips and falls.
• Poor pencil grip and slow, immature writing.
• Difficulty with dressing and using cutlery.
• Poor understanding of spatial concepts.
• Challenges in maintaining friendships and social behaviours.
• Anxiety and low self-esteem.
• Difficulty focusing and managing time.
• Frequently loses items.

Importance of Early Identification:

Early identification of dyspraxia is crucial for addressing physical, learning, social, and emotional needs, helping individuals reach their full potential.

Causes of Dyspraxia:

Dyspraxia results from disruptions in how the brain communicates with the body. The exact cause is unclear, but factors like premature birth, low birth weight, and family history increase the risk. Dyspraxia is not caused by brain damage, illness, or injury; it is a lifelong condition.

Most cases do not have a single identifiable cause, indicating a complex interplay of factors affecting movement skills.