About
Dyspraxia
Developmental Co-ordination Disorder (DCD)
Dyspraxia is also known as Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD).
It is a condition which affects the physical co-ordination of a child or young person and impacts on their day to day functioning.
Children and young people with Dyspraxia often present as:
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Being clumsy and behind age expected in sports
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Poor handwriting or scissor skills etc.
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Slower in doing daily activities such as changing for Physical Exercise (PE) lessons at school
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Poor organisational skills etc.
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It is important to rule out any other cause behind the child or young person’s presentation hence assessment by an expert is recommended.
Assessment
Children and young people suspected to have DCD should have a full assessment by trained specialist(s). The assessment for DCD requires ruling out any underlying neurological or physical disorder.
This may include but is not restricted to:
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A full clinical assessment
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Discussion about symptoms and their impact in everyday life
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A full developmental and relevant history
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Use of specific rating scales or observational data where applicable
Treatment
Dyspraxia is a lifelong condition but there are strategies and ways to minimise the impact of this condition on day to day life. With time, a small group of children, usually those with mild Dyspraxia, may "grow out" of it. However the majority of children diagnosed with Dyspraxia are likely to experience some form of difficulty as teenagers and adults.