Around 5% of school aged children in the UK are thought to have Dyspraxia.
Dyspraxia is a neurological condition, now commonly subsumed under the umbrella term of Developmental Coordination Disorder ("DCD"), which affects motor skills, creating difficulty in performing coordinated movements. Whilst it can co-occur with learning disabilities it does not impact cognitive abilities. Common difficulties associated with Dyspraxia include poor hand-eye coordination, balance and movement difficulties and problems with walking. It can also impact executive functioning, organisation and planning. The result is that Dyspraxic children and young people can perform less well than expected for their age in daily living activities, and appear to move more clumsily. Although signs are present from an early age, a definitive diagnosis typically occurs at around five years of age or older.
Dyspraxia can be diagnosed by Occupational Therapists and paediatricians, although awareness of the condition and its impact on individuals remains relatively limited. This despite one study estimating that it affects around 5% of school aged children in the UK. Support is achieved primarily through a combination of Occupational Therapy and environmental adaptations. The former teaches children and young people how to better understand and relate to their bodies and works with them to learn new ways to develop gross and fine motor skills and perform challenging tasks. This is often through activities such as handwriting practice, balance exercises, and sensory integration. The latter involves the provision of adapated equipement including specialised seating, desks and pen/pencil grips as well as assistive technology such as laptops and scribes to provide alternatives to writing. Allowing extra time to complete activities and adjusting expectations around output will also go a long way towards reducing the anxiety that can accompany Dyspraxia.
If your child or young person is or might be dyspraxic and it is impacting their education, SEND Advocacy can provide advice and support. To have someone in your corner to help you secure the education your child deserves, contact us today.
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