Dyspraxia
Also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), motor learning difficulty, clumsy child syndrome, perceptuo motor dysfunction, Deficits in Attention Motor Control and Perception (DAMP). Dyspraxia refers to children who have movement difficulties, there may also be problems with perception, language, thought, planning and co-ordination. Approximately 1 in 10 children suffer from the condition, with boys affected four times more frequently than girls. In a class of 30 children at least one will have Dyspraxia.Parents may notice the problem early on: their child may have trouble with some of the following:
There might also be some speech and language or pronunciation difficulties caused by problems coordinating the various movements of the mouth and tongue.
HELP AT HOME and AT SCHOOL
Dressing for school
Social integration:
Offer lots of public praise at the appropriate time, but ensure that other children in the class or group do not begin to feel this is unfair treatment. Always pick good points from the child’s work. Make certain other children are praised for their efforts at the same time.
Give him some responsibilities / tasks which should involve others; encourage teamwork. Encourage the child to ‘join in’ with other pupils, by helping find and develop common interests such as pop music, fashion, etc. Encourage other children to help him join in, to improve skills, dissuade them from isolating him. Insist that all the social rules of the classroom / home are observed. Although this may seem painful at times, the child needs to be the same as his peers and observe the same rules. This helps the children to heighten their own awareness of behaviour.
Pupils with dyspraxia need considerable support from significant adults with regard to their social interactions. Depending on the degree of severity, they will also benefit from regular interventions from some of the following: (Educational) Psychologist: If a child’s difficulties are severe enough to require considerable in and out of school support, a full psychological assessment should be requested. When completed, this may lead to a Statement of Special Educational Needs.
Orthoptists are not only interested in general eyesight, but in how the eyes are able to work together at close proximity as they do when a child needs to read and write. The orthoptist will help give a reliable assessment of eye function to help the child’s teacher should that child’s letter and numeral reversals be more frequent than is expected. Occupational Therapists are usually able to assist with visual-perceptual skills, fine motor performance, pencil-hold and letter formation. Physiotherapists help with gross motor skills, posture and general body image and management.
Speech Therapists can help young people who have speech and articulation difficulties. There is a danger that the child may receive treatment from too many therapists and miss too much school, thus creating more problems. It is essential that the school’s special educational needs coordinator avoids this by good general management of the child’s individual programme and by liaison with teachers, carers, parents and all outside agencies concerned with the child.
Other Useful Contacts:
The Dyspraxia Foundation
8 West Alley, HITCHIN, Herts SG5 1EG
Tel: 01462 454986
Support and information for individuals, families and professionals affected by dyspraxia.
Web: www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
Dore Achievement Centres help children, teenagers and adults affected by learning difficulties, including ADHD, to achieve their full potential through exercises to improve the performance of the cerebellum, enabling the brain to use its full power.
Tel: 0870 880 6060
Web: www.dorecentres.co.uk
Email: info@dore.co.uk
The Dyscovery Centre
4a Church Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2DZ
Tel: 029 2062 8222
Assessment, advice, training and selected resource items..
Web: www.dyscovery.co.uk
Therapy in Praxis Ltd PO Box 90, Kirkbymoorside, York YO62 6YE
An occupational therapy and assessment service for children.
Web: www.therapyinpraxisltd.co.uk
Anything Left Handed Ltd 18 Avenue Road, Belmont, Surrey SM2 6JD
Tel: 020 8770 3722
All staff are left-handed, they produce a range of 200 items. Have a fact sheet on handwriting for left-handed children.
Web: www.anythingleft-handed.co.uk
British Dyslexia Association 98 London Road, READING, RGH1 5AU
Tel: 0118 966 8271
Dyslexia Institute Park House, Wick Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 0HH
Tel: 01784 222300
The Foundation for Conductive Education
Tel: 0121 449 1569
Cannon Hill House, Russell Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8RD
A registered charity for children and adults with incurable movement disabilities, offers more independence and dignity by teaching them how to overcome their disability in everyday life. Programmes for children with dyspraxia aged 3-14 years at four levels for progressing at their own rate.
Web: www.conductive-education.org.uk
Reading: see also OAASIS information sheet ‘Books – where to find them’
OAASIS also publishes A First Guide to Dyspraxia in its First Guide series £4.00 plus p&p. You can ring or write to OAASIS at the address over the page for a publications list / order form or visit the website. The OAASIS website is at www.oaasis.co.uk.
David Fulton Publishers
Tel: 0208 996 3610
Website:www.fultonpublishers.co.uk
Email: mail@fultonpublishers.co.uk
Order via Bookplace Ltd
Tel: 08000 921 554
Email: customerservice@bookplace-ltd.co.uk
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Website: www.jkp.com
Email: post@jkp.com
Tel: 0207 833 2307.
Lucky Duck Publishing Ltd
Website: www.luckyduck.co.uk
Email: publishing@luckyduck.co.uk
Tel: 0117 947 5150
Fax 0117 947 5152
Sage Publications
Web: www.sagepub.co.uk
(includes Paul Chapman Publishing and Luck Duck books) for all professionals working in schools and educational settings.
SEN Marketing
Website: www.senbooks.co.uk
Email: info@senbooks.co.uk
Tel/Fax: 01924 871697
The internet book shop www.amazon.co.uk
Development Dyspraxia – Identification and Intervention – 2nd edition: A Manual for Parents and Professionals. Author: Madeleine Portwood, 1999. £21.50 ISBN 1 85346 573 9.
Dyspraxia: A Guide for Teachers and Parents. Authors: Kate Ripley, Bob Daines, Jenny Barrett. Includes resource materials. Price £18.00 ISBN 1 85346 444 9
Understanding Developmental Dyspraxia. A Textbook for Students and Professionals. Author: Madeleine Portwood. Price £19.50 ISBN 1 85346 574 7
All the above are published by David Fulton Publishers (see above for contact numbers).
Internet Sites:
www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~velleman/cas.html
is a US paper on apraxia - verbal Dyspraxia and has a link to www.apraxia-kids.org Childhood Apraxia of Speech Assoc.
www.matts-hideout.co.uk
a website set up and run by a teenage boy, aimed at other kids with dyspraxia.
Cambian Education Services run seven residential special schools and colleges for young people with autistic spectrum disorders, Asperger Syndrome/HFA, severe learning difficulties. OAASIS can give you advice on the schools and send you their prospectuses.
OAASIS also has a list of independent special schools/colleges that mention Dyspraxia, again please contact us. OAASIS produces 8 chargeable publications entitled ‘First Guide to…’; wallet sized cards explaining 9 learning disabilities and a wide range of free Information Sheets. Please contact OAASIS for the full list, or view them on the website at www.oaasis.co.uk. All the information sheets are checked annually, please ensure you have the current version.
© OAASIS (Office for Advice Assistance Support and Information on Special needs) This article can be freely reproduced with due attribution of authorship.