1. DCD is short for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DSM verified).

2. Dyspraxia is another name for DCD.

3. Though used interchangeably, Dyspraxia is understood to encompass a broader set of symptoms (involving memory, executive functions, processing speeds and other skills) - more than what is defined in the DSM for DCD (Impairment of developmental, motor and coordination skills).

4. Braiins will focus on Dyspraxia.

1. It is a life-long neurodevelopmental condition with childhood onset.

2. It affects motor skills, motor planning, along with co-ordination and developmental progress. Other cognitive functions can also be impeded.

3. Generally, it’s not well known or understood in North America.

4. 6-10% of school-aged children are affected. However as much as 20% of the population may be affected. Many are unaware they may be dyspraxic.

5. Dyspraxia is a spectrum disorder - meaning the severity and types of symptoms range. It presents differently for everyone.

6. Dyspraxia often overlaps with other neuro and biological conditions like Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, ADHD, OCD, Autism, CMS and others - but not always.

7. It is often missed and left undiagnosed or confused with another condition.

8. There is no cure for dyspraxia. It’s a managed condition that can be helped with occupational therapy (and other forms of therapies), academic accommodations, implemented life strategies, patience and resilience.

Dyspraxia can affect the body and the mind in various ways:

Body:

• Movement

• Balance

• Coordination

• Gross Motor Skills - large muscles groups like arms, legs, body

• Fine Motor Skills - small muscle groups like use of hands and fingers

• Proprioception - Dyspraxics can lack body sense and spatial awareness of their body and extremities (body parts).

• Physical Fatigue (intense)

Brain:

• Mental Fatigue (intense and sustained)

• Short-Term Memory (short-term storage)

• Working Memory (used in manipulation of information)

• Automaticity

• Processing Speed

• Sequencing Skills

• Planning

• Organization

• Decision Making

• Judgement

• Problem Solving

• Multi-tasking

• Learning

• Perception

• Visual-Motor Integration

• Literal Understanding

• Social Skills and Integration

• Emotional development and State of Mind

To put the long list of symptoms of Dyspraxia into context, the following is a sample of how they translate into real world and real life situations - functionally and developmentally.

Dyspraxia can result in or cause difficulties with:

Gross Motor:

falling ● tripping ● bumping into objects ● knocking things over ● walking ● jumping ● crawling ● rolling ● sitting ● standing ● use of stairs ● playground movements ● climbing ● catching ● throwing ● hand-eye coordination ● kicking ● riding a bike (and other balance activities) ● dancing ● exaggerated movements ● awkward gait ● athletic coordination to play sports and games ● many physical activities in general.

Fine Motor:

writing ● drawing ● colouring ● using scissors ● tying shoe laces ● hand grasp ● holding ● locks and keys ● fastening buttons ● loops ● snaps ● elastics ● zippers ● using eating utensils properly ● cooking ● stacking objects ● folding ● opening bottles ● twisting ● using tools ● manipulating small objects in general ● manual dexterity ● activities requiring 2 hands ● activities that require detail and finesse.

Cognitive Functions:

trouble organizing ● planning ● prioritizing ● multitasking ● driving ● playing board games ● literal thinking and understanding ● judgement ● learning new things ● reading ● math ● understanding instructions ● following long lists of directions ● memorizing ● solving multi-step problems ● copying text and numbers from the board ● tracking ● perception difficulties ● under-sensitivities ● over-sensitivities ● time management ●difficulty with skipped steps ● struggles with anxiety.

Speech and Language:

ability to speak ● loss for words ● mispronouncing words ● producing clear speech ● one volume ● difficulty organizing thoughts and events while speaking/ storytelling.

Self care:

dressing ● hair styling (with and without accessories) ● make-up application ● brushing teeth ● flossing ● shampooing ● shaving ● clipping nails ● washing ● flossing ● general hygiene.

Fatigue:

physical fatigue ● mental fatigue ● intense and sustained ● very real ● not exaggerated ● not laziness ● not low intelligence ● not lack of motivation and drive ● working memory is overloaded ● muscle strength and tone underdeveloped.

Social Impacts:

difficulty with group settings ● following conversations ● not recognizing tone and meaning ● missing non-verbal cues (gestures, touches) ● speaking loudly always ● missing conversation details ● social gaffes (like being late, unorganized) ● environment can be too loud or too bright ● taking things literally ● doing things literally ● jokes and sarcasm are difficult ● can be excluded from activities ● social anxiety can result ● choose not to participate ● choose to isolate.

Knowing the clinical definitions, explanations, and summary of symptoms alone, makes it hard to fully comprehend how dyspraxia affects the lives of people with this disorder. You need to move beyond that. You need to find the more meaningful personal stories and anecdotes to truly understand the diversity of symptoms, and grasp the depth and severity of the real-world impact of dyspraxia for those who live and struggle with it.

Start by exploring the Dyspraxia sections below and it’s interconnectedness with other conditions.

• Watch the videos below

• Read about our son’s dyspraxia and what a diagnosis meant for us (Dyspraxia Blog)

• Get deeper, more personal understanding of how dyspraxia impacts his everyday life (and ours) by exploring the links below:

  • A Child’s Perspective - a unique voice to what dyspraxia is like for a young person.

  • Share in the joys and sadness of dyspraxic life with some thoughts on parenting a neurodiverse child: Explore Memories, Journal, Random Thoughts, and Our Story.