Dyspraxia (also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting approximately 6% of the population. This disorder affects physical coordination, movement and motor planning.
Dyspraxia isn’t clumsiness. Instead, it is a difference in how neurons develop and transmit messages from the brain to the body which can make simple motor tasks, such as waving goodbye, significantly more demanding.
What does dyspraxia affect?
The effect of dyspraxia differs from person to person, it can affect:
- Motor skills: trouble with tasks such as writing, tying shoelaces, sports activities and driving
- Spatial awareness: difficulty judging distances, navigating spaces or organising objects.
- Memory: weak short-term memory, which can lead to forgetfulness
- Fatigue: tired due to the increased physical and mental effort required to perform daily tasks
- Sensory sensitivity: over or under sensitivity to light, sound, touch, taste, or pain
- Executive functioning: challenges in organising tasks, prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines
Why dyspraxia is often misunderstood
Dyspraxia frequently flies under the radar, this is due to the difficulties associated with the condition and can be mistaken for laziness, inattention or a lack of motivation. Dyspraxia also often co-occurs and shares similar traits with other neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD.
Dyspraxia tends to go undiagnosed, therefore individuals tend to develop coping strategies that hide how much effort certain tasks can actually take. This can make it harder to access support and can lead to low self-esteem and anxiety.
Supporting adults with dyspraxia
Adults with dyspraxia may benefit from practical adjustments and understanding in their work and social environments.
- Written instructions: verbal directions can be hard to remember, written or visual instructions can help with this
- Time pressure: rushed environments can increase errors and anxiety
- Acknowledge differences: every person’s experience of dyspraxia is different
Supporting young people with dyspraxia
Early support and understanding can make a significant difference to young people’s confidence and wellbeing.
- Breaking tasks into smaller steps: complex tasks like tying shoelaces can be broken down into more manageable steps
- Allow extra time: getting dressed, eating and writing tasks can take longer
- Work with the school: an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan can provide individuals with additional support
- Modify the environment: pencil grips, adaptive scissors, elasticated clothing
