What is Dyspraxia? by James O'Keefe

All young people must deal with their rapidly changing bodies. However many young people with dyspraxia may also have the added stress of dealing with coordination problems, as well as speech and academic difficulties.

Writing articles is VERY MUCH worth the effort! Here are just a few ways:

Coordination difficulties can be particularly problematic in physical education classes and other sports activities

Speech difficulties can interfere with casual conversation, which can result in social awkwardness and an unwillingness to risk engaging in conversation.

Writing difficulties such as poor letter formation, pencil grip and slow writing can make school work frustrating.

Teenagers & Adults

The challenges presented to adults with dyspraxia can be seen in all aspects of everyday life. Difficulties can have an impact on:

Driving

· Manual dexterity needed for writing and typing

Completing household chores

Personal grooming and self-help activities

· Perception inconsistencies - over- or under-sensitivity to light, touch, space, taste, smell. It is important to note that a person displaying the kind of difficulties outlined above does not necessarily have dyspraxia. If a person continues to display these types of difficulty over time, testing for dyspraxia by trained professionals should be considered.

Though not always, dyspraxia often co-exists with other learning disabilities, such as dyslexia (difficulty reading, writing and spelling) and dyscalculia (difficulty with mathematics); as well as AD/HD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The symptoms from these learning disabilities can be similar to those of a person with dyspraxia; and regardless of whether there is an overlap in disabilities, the severity and range of difficulties can vary widely.

Other common difficulties facing people with dyspraxia include low self-esteem, depression, mental health problems and emotional and behavioral difficulties. Weaknesses in comprehension, information processing and listening can also contribute to the difficulties experienced by people with dyspraxia.

What strategies can help?

There is no cure to dyspraxia, however early intervention can help a person learn to deal with his or her difficulties. Depending on the severity of the disability, work with occupational, speech and physical therapists can greatly improve a person's ability to function and succeed independently.

Beginning at an early age, it is vital that parents offer their child patience and encouragement. It can be very frustrating to have difficulty communicating or moving, and a parent can ease that frustration by offering help and support in overcoming these difficulties.

All people with dyspraxia need help practicing simple tasks and can benefit from step-by-step progress into more complex activities. Encouraging easy physical activities that develop coordination can increase confidence. It is also important to encourage friendships to broaden a person's experience and understanding of social relationships.

Go to Page 1

BIO:

James O’Keefe is the owner of About RSD offering FREE articles, tips, hints, and real-world advice on how to deal with various physical and emotional challenges, based on his experiences as a special education parent.

Some Aditional Articles you may enjoy

How to Lift Weights to Lose Weight by Michael Stefano

test1 by ad

How To Get Slim With Healthy Eating Habits by Ruth Hinson

Acupuncture: Questions and Answers with an Expert by Brian B. Carter, MS, LAc

Cosmetic solutions for hair loss. by Richard Mitchell

Click a Number to go to an article index page
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39