- Often known as ‘clumsy child syndrome’
- May be mild to severe
- Can affect speech
- Can cause child to have low self-esteem and later mental problems.
This condition is a lack of development in planning of physical movement and organization. The affected motor problems result in difficulties in academic learning and also in daily life skills. This may be seen in delayed crawling, walking etc. They often have difficulty coping with multi-sensory stimuli and can feel pain from too much sound or visual stimuli. Children with dyspraxia often appear to be above average verbally and this can lead teachers to believe they are more competent than they actually are.
What to look for:
In school the child will usually have difficulties in handwriting, in physical education, in tying shoelaces etc. He/she may knock over or drop things easily. Getting all the items he/she needs out of his schoolbag can require a great deal of effort. The child can be of high/satisfactory ability in verbal skills but writing/gross motor skills can be very poor. This child can appear to be lacking in concentration and motivation and ‘lazy’.
People who can help: SENCO/Resource Teacher; Occupational Therapist
Further Information
http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/
http://www.inclusive.co.uk/support/dyspraxi.shtml
Article on dyspraxia and DCD( source: Afasic Scotland Dyspraxia Foundation in Scotland)
Introduction to Dyspraxia (source: Nuffield Portfolio Programme Report No. 2 CHILDHOOD DYSPRAXIA: SOME ISSUES FOR THE NHS AMANDA BOWENS IAIN SMITH November 1999)
Developmental Dyspraxia