Dyspraxia
Dyspraxia
Signs, Symptoms, Effects, and Treatment
Dyspraxia is a motor learning difficulty that can affect planning of movements and co-ordination as a result of brain messages not being accurately transmitted to the body. It may be diagnosed in the absence of other motor or sensory impairments like muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.
This means physical activities are hard to learn, difficult to retain, and hesitant and awkward in performance.
Dyspraxia affects each person in different ways and at different stages of development. How an individual is affected is inconsistent, too. For example, one day they may be able to perform a specific task, the next day they can’t.
Symptoms
Children with dyspraxia symptoms may possibly include:-
- May not be able to run, hop or jump, for example, when their friends can.
- They may find it hard to walk up and down stairs.
- May not be able to dress easily.
- Their speech may be immature or unintelligible in their early years. Language may be impaired or late to develop.
- At school, a child with dyspraxia may have difficulty with maths and writing stories.
- They may avoid physical activities such as games and PE
- Be slow at dressing and unable to tie shoelaces
- Be poorly organised and have a short attention span.
- They may find it hard to remember and follow instructions.
- Poor handwriting is one of the most common symptoms.
Adult symptoms
Adults with dyspraxia often find routine daily tasks such as personal grooming, driving and household chores challenging. They may find it hard to cope at work and opt out of doing things they find difficult. They may experience problems riding bicycles and playing certain sports, such as those that involve using a bat.
Possible treatment and therapy
There is no single best treatment for all children or adults with Dyspraxia. Specialists may use programs for children and adults with Dyspraxia to teach skills by building on a series of simple steps and ways in which to tackle every aspect of the condition that effects the individual. As every ones condition may vary there is no set guidelines on how to treat the individual so seeing a specialist will help identify the difficulties the individual may have.
CBT (Cognitive behavioural therapy) – Cognitive-behavioural therapy encourages you to identify and change the negative beliefs and behaviours that are causing problems in your life. Since many individuals with Dyspraxia are demoralised from struggle and unmet expectations, one of the main goals of cognitive-behavioural therapy is to transform this negative outlook into a more hopeful, realistic view. Cognitive-behavioural therapy also focuses on the practical issues that often come with Dyslexia, such as disorganization, work performance problems, poor time management and poor attention.
Neurofeedback training – Neurofeedback training is a type of biofeedback that uses electroencephalography to provide a signal that can be used by a person to receive feedback about brain activity. In the case of someone with Dyspraxia brainwaves indicative of focus and attention can be filtered and used in a real time graph or at Games for Life we use this particular brain wave to move around and control animated characters in a computer game. Kind of like taking your brain to the gym you are exercising your attention by being made aware of it and how to control it.
Dyspraxia specialist Coaching – Coaches work with clients to help them better manage time, organize, set goals and completing seemingly easy tasks that maybe more difficult for someone with Dyspraxia. In addition to helping clients understand the impact Dyspraxia has had on their lives, coaches can help clients develop “work-round’s” strategies to deal with specific challenges, and determine and use individual strengths. Coaches also help clients get a better grasp of what reasonable expectations are for them as individuals.
Also:-
- Parent and personal training, to teach techniques that can be used at home.
- Physical or occupational therapy, to help with motor skills.
- Speech and language therapy, to help with the skill of everyday conversation.
- Child and adult support groups are also very good for gaining information and personal experience on Dyspraxia and what strategies people use to help them may work for you.
