11th March 2024
Dyspraxia
What is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia (also known as developmental coordination disorder – DCD) is a surprisingly common condition affecting movement and coordination in children and adults. It is a hidden condition which is still poorly understood.
Each person’s experience of dyspraxia/DCD is different and will be affected by a person’s age, the opportunities they have had to learn skills, environmental demands and the support/understanding shown by people around them. There are, however, some common signs of dyspraxia/DCD.
Difficulty coordinating large and small body movements is the main feature of dyspraxia/DCD. Physical signs of dyspraxia/DCD include the following:
- Movements appear awkward and lack smoothness
- Extra physical and mental effort is required to carry out movements that others manage easily
- Poor spatial awareness means more trips, bumps and bruises.
- Difficulty learning the movements required to carry out new practical tasks.
- Difficulty transferring motor skills to new situations or activities.
- Many people with dyspraxia/DCD have difficulty organising themselves, their equipment and their thoughts. Some also experience problems with attention, memory and time management.
- Some people with dyspraxia/DCD have difficulty keeping up with conversations and there may be long, awkward pauses before they respond to a question or comment.
