Dyspraxiaalso known as motor clumsiness or clumsinessis a disorder that significantly affects the planning and execution of purposeful movements. Although it may seem easy, it is actually a major challenge, making daily functioning difficult.
Inharmonious motor development, problems with eye-hand coordination, balance, fatigabilityThese are just some of the problems that a child with dyspraxia faces on a daily basis. At the same time, children with dyspraxia are often very intelligent and have no problem assimilating information. However, it takes a long time for the brain to process new information.
Are children with dyspraxia on the increase?
Unfortunately, yes. These are my observations over the last several years of working with children, and other therapists also recognise that this problem is affecting more and more people. There are several reasons for this, but in my opinion three issues are key:
- Lack of physical activity in children,
- Too many electronics served to children at an early age,
- Helping children with basic activities of daily living.
This trend is frightening and should definitely be stopped as soon as possible.
Can dyspraxia be outgrown?
Unfortunately not. You don't grow out of dyspraxia, it is a "gift" for life but... it can be tamed! 🙂 With well-planned and regular exercises you can prevent the further development of the disorder and significantly improve the quality of life of children with dyspraxia. Therapy plan in this case is a holistic, long-term process and always individually designed for each child.
Diagnosis of dyspraxia
Diagnosis of dyspraxia is not easy and often occurs with too much delay. What can affect this? Its heterogeneity - as it can have a very different clinical picture and can look different in each child. It can present as an isolated disorder or can accompany other neurological diseases.
It can also run its course with very severe symptoms and make the child's life significantly more difficult, or it can manifest itself only in certain elements of the child's functioning. Sometimes it occurs selectively and affects only large motor skills, small motor skills or the articulatory apparatus, or involves all of the above.
We very often hear from parents that they suspected something was "wrong" with their child from the beginning, they just didn't know what exactly. Doctors often dismiss the parents and tell them that it will pass on its own, that it will grow up, so that the parents do not exaggerate and look for a hole in the whole. Even if the parents' vigilance is dulled, the problem returns with redoubled force in the following years, e.g. when the child starts kindergarten or school.
This is another great example of the power of parental intuition.
Mostly the diagnosis is made by a paediatric neurologist, following a sound sensory integration diagnosis by an experienced therapist. Often this diagnosis is also preceded by a consultation with another specialist depending on which area has the greatest deviation from the norm. It may be necessary to consult with neurologist, special educator, ophthalmologist, optometrist, laryngologist, psychologist or paediatrician. In our Therapy and Diagnosis Centre, very often the diagnosis is made by the entire diagnostic team.
Therapy for a child with dyspraxia
Therapy is determined by the results of the diagnosis. If dyspraxia is the only disorder in the child and does not occur with other dysfunctions, anticipated duration of therapy is shorter than when combined with other neurodevelopmental problems. Often, after just one month of well-chosen, regular and comprehensive therapy, parents can look forward to the first therapeutic successes, i.e. an improvement in the quality of life for the child and the whole family. As with the diagnosis, in addition to the sensory integration therapist - a speech and language therapist, psychologist, educationalist, physiotherapist or auditory processing therapist may also be involved in the therapy.
Most importantly: there is no therapeutic success without the cooperation, commitment and acceptance of the parents!
Effective treatment of dyspraxia should include:
- sensory integration therapy - with emphasis on balance exercises, alternation of movement, eye-hand coordination, deep sensation, motor planning, body schema games
- general development classes - can be dancing, judo, swimming ( anything that makes the child happy )
- physiotherapy exercises to strengthen trunk stabilisation - in cases of reduced muscle tone
- small motor skills exercises (hand therapy ) - if required
- speech therapy - for speech disorders
- orthoptic therapy - when visual training is required
In addition, it is important not to forget working with a psychologist - individual meetings or Social skills traininggroup activities. The aim of psychological therapy in this case will be to develop self-esteem, the ability to relate to other children, self-confidence, lack of fear of taking on new challenges and acceptance of possible failures.
Dyspraxia symptoms
INFANTS
- late achievement of milestones
- lack of variety in the development of new skills (e.g. the child can move, but only in one way on the bottom, and cannot crawl or walk on all fours)
PRE-CHILDREN
- difficulty kicking or catching a ball
- difficulty in climbing the ladder
- falling over, tripping over one's own feet
- difficulties with self-service activities, dressing, brushing teeth
- inability to learn to ride a bicycle
- articulatory-phonatory problems (verbal dyspraxia, dyspraxia of speech, very quiet speaking)
- difficulty reproducing and imitating movements
- body schema abnormalities
SCHOOL CHILDREN
- no ability to cut with scissors
- difficulties in learning to read and write
- inability to tie shoelaces, fasten buttons
- impaired bilateral coordination
- impaired precision of hand movements
- temporal-spatial orientation is a major challenge
In all age groups, the common denominator will be problems with attention and concentration. In a toddler it will manifest itself in the fact that any toy will only interest him for a moment and will quickly be discarded. In pre-school children, the problem will be to focus on an activity, e.g. drawing or a particular game for a longer period of time.
In school children, problems with concentration will be particularly evident during learning. Problem with acquiring new skills and reluctance to try again is also characteristic of children with dyspraxia in any age group. For obvious reasons, these children avoid competition as much as possible.
Dyspraxia and its impact on a child's social and emotional life
Seemingly easy everyday activities, motor tasks, sports games, which everyone does without much effort, can automatically challenge a child with dyspraxia beyond their capabilities. For how does a child feel when they see that:
"peers effortlessly climb a climbing wall, kick and catch a ball, throw to a target, put on a jacket, ride a bike, do everything faster, better than me and don't get tired as quickly as I do?".
This causes feelings of frustration, insecurity, lack of self-confidence, anger at oneselfand in subsequent stages withdrawal from social life. Children They become irritable, may be aggressive or apathetic. In the absence of understanding from other children, or worse, parents, dyspraxia can lead to anxiety and... depression!
Dear parents - don't wait for the final bell!
We can only try to imagine how much confusion and stress in the school reality is felt by a child who has difficulty controlling his or her own body.
Adequate development of gross and fine motor skills at the pre-school stage determines a child's success at school. Motor, artistic, technical, reading, writing and arithmetic activities will not be possible if the child has not learnt to feel his or her body in space and to plan movement in the earlier stages of his or her development.
If you have suspicions that your the child may be developing in a non-harmonious way, with a delay that makes everyday activities very difficult for him or her, even if he or she wants to – see a specialist. The earlier the problem is diagnosed, the sooner you can implement a therapy plan and see the results of your work and the smile and pride on your child's face.
Anna Bernaś
Paediatric physiotherapist
