Johnny has had adequate parental teaching, a stimulating environment to grow up in, and is blessed with an above-average learning intelligence, yet he has difficulty with movement and some aspects of learning. Why? Because he has dyspraxia--a disorder affecting 2 percent of the population, but whose sufferers are 70 percent male. He will need the support of his family and qualified professionals on a regular basis to succeed in school.

What Is Dyspraxia?:

Dyspraxia is difficulty with thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory/motor tasks. It is caused by developmental differences in the brain, and takes many forms. Some of these are:

  • Ideomotor Dyspraxia: the inability to perform simple, single motor tasks, such as combing hair or waving goodbye. 
  • Ideational Dyspraxia: difficulty with multi-level tasks, such as brushing teeth. 
  • Dressing Dyspraxia: difficulty with dressing and putting clothes on in order. 
  • Oromotor Dyspraxia: difficulty with speech. 
  • Constructional Dyspraxia: difficulty with spatial relations.

Signs of Dyspraxia In Children

Infant babies to preschool:

  • Late rolling, crawling, and walking 
  • Difficulty with steps and climbing 
  • Difficulty putting together puzzles 
  • Abnormal eye movements - a tendency to move the head instead of eyes 
  • Difficulty in learning new skills 
  • Slow speech development

In older children:

  • Difficulty in dressing and tying shoelaces 
  • Difficulty using cutlery 
  • Poor balance, awkwardness in gait, general clumsiness 
  • Difficulty riding a bike 
  • Difficulty in physical education classes due to difficulty with hopping, skipping, and throwing/catching a ball 
  • Poor reading skills 
  • Illegible handwriting due to an inability to grasp a pen or pencil properly 
  • Trouble remembering/following instructions, suffers from a poor short term memory in general 
  • Difficulty copying from the blackboard 
  • Speech problems, and difficulties in general with self-expression 
  • Impatience 
  • Poor social skills, emotional immaturity 
  • Phobias or obsessive behaviors 
  • Sensitivity to touch, an intolerance to having hair and nails cut, or teeth and hair brushed 
  • Poor sense of direction 
  • Confusion as to which hand to use for a task 
  • Difficulty in muti-step tasks such as brushing teeth due to an inability to remember the order of steps that need to be taken

How To Help Your Child

  • Don't pressure your child to communicate. This will only frustrate him and inhibit him further. Instead, use repetitive verbal activities such as songs, poems and nursery rhymes to develop language skills. 
  • Use sign language or picture board when necessary. 
  • For motor difficulties, practice tasks with your child. Do them slowly and in the proper order each time. 
  • Start with simple tasks and slowly increase difficulty over time. 
  • Encourage physical activities to build coordination and confidence. 
  • Be patient. Don't create an anxious atmosphere. It will only hinder learning and increase frustration. 
  • Encourage friendships. Socialization increases confidence and rapport with peers.

Irene Helen Zundel is a freelance writer and homeschooling parent. She specializes in writing educational and family oriented articles. 

Recommended Books

"Helping Children With Dyspraxia" by Maureen Boon, Jessica Kingsley Pub: 2001.

"Dyspraxia 5-11: A Practical Guide" by Christine MacIntyre, David Fulton Pub: 2001.

"The LCP Solution: The Remarkable Nutritional Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia" by B. Jacqueline Stordy Ph.D., Malcolm J. Nicholl; Ballantine Books Pub: 2000.

Recommended Websites

The Dyspraxia Association website

National Center for Learning Disabilities website