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Dyspraxia in Children

Dyspraxia is a disorder that affects the development of motor skills, especially in children. The Center for Learning Disabilities states that 6 percent of children show symptoms of dyspraxia. The disorder is referred to as "clumsy child syndrome" due to the children's limited motor skill ability. Dyspraxia is a hidden handicap; the children appear normal until they are challenged verbally, mentally or physically.

  1. Symptoms

    • A young child will show symptoms of not wanting to walk or crawl. There will be difficulty with grasping a utensil or a cup while eating, along with difficulty trying to walk, hop or throwing and catching a ball. Fine motor skills are limited, including buttoning a shirt or tying a shoe. The child will have difficulty writing and have delayed speech that is hard to understand. A school age child will have these symptoms, along with difficulty communicating in social situations.

    Cause

    • Dyspraxia is described as a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain do not make a connection to each other. The disorder may occur in children due to a stroke, accident or other incident that causes damage to the brain. A child in the womb may develop dyspraxia due to an illness or trauma in the mother. It is also possible that a lack of oxygen caused damage to developing cells while in the uterus. Dyspraxia may exist with other disorders such as dyslexia, cerebral palsy or attention deficit disorder.

    Diagnosis

    • Diagnosis is sometimes difficult, as it depends on the severity of symptoms and can share symptoms with other disorders. The best way to diagnose the disorder is to have a parent assist the physician by offering information on how the disorder affects the child on a daily basis. There are no medical tests that diagnose dyspraxia.

    Treatment

    • Treatment of dyspraxia involves physical, occupational and speech therapy to assist the child in learning how to overcome the symptoms of the disorder. Therapy works to teach the child a new way to execute tasks and actions. In school, a child will receive special education assistance that offers one-on-one learning opportunities. Parents of children with dyspraxia should play a major role is assisting the child by staying active with treatment and schooling. Support groups and counseling is available to help parents cope with the disorder.

    Implications

    • Children with dyspraxia will appear normal once they have learned basic skills. The difficulties appear when new skills are introduced. The child will have problems organizing thoughts or performing tasks in a specific order.

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