What Is Dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia is an underdevelopment of the brain resulting in messages not being properly transmitted to the body, producing a number of consequences in physical and cognitive areas. It affects at least 2% of the population in varying degrees and 70% of those affected are male. Dyspraxia can be subtle or more pronounced, and often a person's disability is not readily apparent. The various forms of dyspraxia are:

Ideomotor Dyspraxia. Inability to perform single motor tasks, such as combing hair or waving goodbye.

Ideational Dyspraxia. Difficulty with multi-level tasks, such as taking the proper sequence of steps for brushing teeth.

Dressing Dyspraxia. Difficulty with dressing and putting clothes on in order.

Oromotor Dyspraxia. Difficulty with speech.

Constructional Dyspraxia. Difficulty with spatial relations.

Some of the symptoms of a child with dyspraxia may be:

Coordination problems, including awkwardness in walk, clumsiness, or trouble with hopping, skipping, throwing and catching a ball, or riding a bike

Confusion about which hand to use for tasks

Cannot hold a pen or pencil properly

Sensitive to touch; may find some clothes feel uncomfortable; there may be an intolerance to having hair or teeth brushed, or nails and hair cut

Poor short term memory

Trouble with reading and writing

Poor sense of direction

Speech problems, slow to learn to speak or speech may be incoherent
Phobias or obsessive behavior

Impatience

While older children may be verbally adept, they may not develop the social skills to get along with their peers. While children with dyspraxia can be of average of above average intelligence, they often have immature behavior. Elements of logic and reason may be difficult to comprehend.

What strategies can help?

These is no cure for dyspraxia but the earlier a child is treated then the greater the chance of improvement. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and accommodations at school can all help a child to cope with dyspraxia.

A child with dyspraxia wants to communicate, but often cannot. Putting pressure on a child will only inhibit him or her further. Use verbal activities, especially those that are repetitive, to develop language skills, including songs, poems, nursery rhymes, etc.
If your child is unable to communicate well, the use of sign language or a communication board to supplement speech temporarily not only decreases the frustration but also even seems to help with speech development.

For motor difficulties, practice tasks with a child, allowing him or her to learn the sequence one must follow.

Encourage physical activities to strengthen a child's overall performance and coordination.

Start with simple physical tasks and work up to harder and more complicated tasks involving multiple steps.
Remember that frustration and anxiety will only hamper a child's success. Be patient with the steps a child needs in order to grasp an activity.

Encourage your child to make friends, and expose your child to activities outside the home. In this way a child sees and experiences the broader world and can start to develop appropriate social skills.