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