It is thought dyspraxia affects up to 6% of the population, with up to 2% being severely affected. Males are four times more likely to be affected than females. Dyspraxia has also been shown, at times, to run in families.
Myth #1: Dyspraxia is extremely rare.
Fact: Dyspraxia often goes undiagnosed and unrecognized, but it's believed to be relatively common. An estimated six to 10 percent of children have some features of dyspraxia. It can go by many names, including developmental coordination disorder and motor learning difficulty.
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.
In childhood, dyspraxia (also known as developmental coordination disorder or DCD) usually refers to a disorder in which children do not develop the motor skills that are expected for their age. While some children outgrow the condition, the majority continue to experience movement difficulty as adolescents and adults.
It can affect your co-ordination skills – such as tasks requiring balance, playing sports or learning to drive a car. Dyspraxia can also affect your fine motor skills, such as writing or using small objects.
Fundamentally, autism is a disorder that affects socialization and communication, while dyspraxia affects motor skills and physical coordination. While coinciding symptoms aren't uncommon, the two are considered distinct disorders.
What is dyspraxia ? Children with dyspraxia have problems with smooth and coordinated movements. Dyspraxia is often present after a brain injury. Dyspraxia brought on by a brain injury can improve with time and therapy.
Dyspraxia does not affect a person's IQ, but they may often have to navigate a mind which can be unorganized, meaning they are usually very intelligent people. Navigating around these barriers results in creating strategies to overcome problems really well.
Dyspraxia often co-occurs with ADHD, but the two conditions are separate. Luckily, there are support groups, online resources, and coping skills for dyspraxic individuals seeking a diagnosis.
Causes of DCD
It's not usually clear why co-ordination doesn't develop as well as other abilities in children with DCD. However, a number of risk factors that can increase a child's likelihood of developing DCD have been identified. These include: being born prematurely, before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Dyspraxia is considered to be a hidden disability as the physical signs can be difficult to recognise. Dyspraxia is also less well known and often misunderstood, many people with dyspraxia do not realise they have the condition until later in life.
You may be entitled to receive a benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) if your child has dyspraxia/attention deficit/dyslexia etc. DLA stands for Disability Living Allowance and it is not means tested, nor is it taxable. There are 2 elements to it – caring and mobility.
Does dyspraxia/DCD run in families? Dyspraxia/DCD seems to run in families in some cases, but to date, no specific gene has been identified. It is likely that there are many different causes of dyspraxia/DCD, and genetics may be one.
Myth 5: Children and adults who are dyspraxic can't be good at sports. These children and adults often just need more practice than others! They will find the initial learning stage much more difficult than others do. However, with practice and clear instructions, they can learn and also succeed at sports.
Overall life skills: Dyspraxia can make it hard to master everyday tasks needed for independence. In elementary school, children may still need help in buttoning their shirt or brushing their teeth. As teens, they could have trouble learning to drive a car or fry an egg.
Tend to get stressed, depressed and anxious easily. May have difficulty sleeping. Prone to low self-esteem, emotional outbursts, phobias, fears, obsessions, compulsions and addictive behaviour.
Dyspraxia is one of the neurodivergent conditions which generally affects movement and coordination, and remains one of the lesser understood neurodivergent conditions. It is also commonly referred to as DCD Development Coordination Disorder.
ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, and Dyslexia all fall within the spectrum of “Neurodiversity” and are all neurodiverse conditions. Neuro-differences are recognised and appreciated as a social category similar to differences in ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or ability.
The associated mental health difficulties that people with dyspraxia are experiencing could be a result of several significant factors: Anxiety, related to feelings of fear or embarrassment. Anxiety about learning new skills or being unable to do the same activities as their peers. Feelings of inadequacy.
Movement and co-ordination problems
They often avoid joining in because of their lack of co-ordination and may find physical education difficult. walking up and down stairs. writing, drawing and using scissors – their handwriting and drawings may appear scribbled and less developed compared to other children their age.
Symptoms of Dyspraxia in Adults
Difficulty with writing and drawing. Difficulty coordinating both sides of the body.
While they do not get worse over time, their challenges may become more apparent with increasing academic demands. They have to work harder and/or differently than their peers to achieve the same goals. Despite their difficulties, pupils with dyspraxia can and do learn to perform some motor tasks quite well.
Dyspraxia is commonly identified alongside dyslexia – some reports even suggest that half of dyslexic children exhibit symptoms characteristic of dyspraxia. Attention difficulties and dyspraxia may also co-present, as can dyspraxia and autism spectrum disorder.