Dyspraxia By Jim O’Keefe

What is dyspraxia? Dyspraxia is a term that refers to a specific disorder in area of motor skill development. People with dyspraxia have difficulty planning and completing intended fine motor tasks. It is estimated that dyspraxia affects at least 2% of general population to some degree and about 70% of those affected by are male.

Dyspraxia can affect different areas of functioning, varying from simple motor tasks such as waving goodbye to more complex tasks like brushing teeth.

What are effects of dyspraxia? Dyspraxia is a lifelong disorder that affects a person's development in area of motor development. Though many challenges can persist throughout a person's life, types of difficulties experienced can change.

Young Children Babies with dyspraxia may avoid crawling and rolling over, and may resist tasks involving motor skills. As they get older these children are prone to:

Difficulty with eye movements - they may move whole head instead of just eyes

Difficulty using eating utensils and holding a cup while drinking

Bumping into objects

Difficulty doing fine-motor activities such as tying shoelaces or buttoning clothing

Difficulty with handwriting

Sensitivity to touch - may find clothing uncomfortable; and may find hair-brushing and cutting, teeth-brushing and nail-cutting unpleasant

Poor sense of direction School Aged Children

Dyspraxia can make it difficult for children to develop social skills, and they may have trouble getting along with peers. Though they are intelligent, these children may seem immature and some may develop phobias and obsessive behavior. All young people must deal with their rapidly changing bodies. However many young people with dyspraxia may also have added stress of dealing with coordination problems, as well as speech and academic difficulties.

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Coordination difficulties can be particularly problematic in physical education classes and other sports activities

Speech difficulties can interfere with casual conversation, which can result in social awkwardness and an unwillingness to risk engaging in conversation.