Dyspraxia

What is: Developmental Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia can be defined as motor difficulties caused by perceptual problems, especially visual-motor and kinesthetic-motor difficulties

Population

Research seems to indicate that up to one in 20 children suffer from the condition with boys identified four times more frequently than girls. It would therefore seem reasonable to suppose that there is at least one sufferer in each class at school and in specialist provision for youngsters with extreme emotional and behavioral difficulties the incidence is likely to be more than 50%.

Neurological Causes

The theory outlined by Gerald Edelman in 1992 suggests that the condition is caused by the failure of the neurons in the brain to develop correctly. This failure of the neurons to form adequate connections means that the brain takes longer to process information and there is a greater likelihood of the brain losing the suggestion and the child therefore failing to respond to requests given to him.

Observable Behaviors

As the brain develops the child becomes more capable. Some of the milestones are well known such as crawling, walking, first words etc but there are many more. Many dyspraxic youngsters fail to achieve these expected levels of development.

Behaviors 0 - 3 Years

There are many early indications that a child is dyspraxic and a summary is shown below:

• Irritable and difficult to comfort - from birth

• Feeding difficulties: food allergies, colic, restricted diet

• Sleeping difficulties: problems establishing routine, requires constant adult reassurance

• Delayed early motor development: sitting unaided, rolling from side to side: do not usually go through the crawling stage

• High levels of motor activity: constantly moving arms and legs

• Repetitive behaviors: head banging or rolling

• Sensitive to high levels of noise

• Continued problems with development of feeding skills

• Toilet training may be delayed

• Avoids constructional toys such as jigsaws and Lego

• Delayed language development: single words not evident until age 3

• Highly emotional: easily distressed, frequent outbursts of uncontrolled behavior

• Concentration limited to 2 or 3 minutes on any task

Treatment is available for this condition: Success has been evident in improved concentration, handwriting, perceptual skills, speed of information processing and behaviour.

For more information contact: COD 1-877-372-2567 www.developmentaldelay.net