has anybody else out there have a child with dyspraxia?

Question

how do you cope?thanks

Answer 1

I have a friend whose daugther is 5 years old and can't speak. She is a very active child, could be even dangerous because is not careful around other children, a little smaller for her age, skinny, doesn't gain weight and seems to not eat well, there is something weird in the way she walks. On the other hand understands everything, communicates well with gestures, no hearing impairment, brain function seems to be okay - basically all physiological tests turned out fine. But doctors couldn't say anything and because she lives in a country where dyspraxia is an unknown term, my friend has been under a lot of pressure. I wonder if her daughter could have that condition. Sorry I can't be of much help. There are good Internet sites, I just had a brief look at one. If you need someone just to share with, e-mail me.

Answer 2

I am dyspraxic. No one knew it existed when I was a child (I'm 41 today), I was thought of as clumsy. I fumbled (shoe laces are still a nightmare). I think over the years, my main coping mechanism was to slow down. I didn't realise I was doing it and I didn't know why. I just know that even writing is infuriatingly slow, typing this is quite slow, even though I'm a touch typist because my hand to eye co-ordination is out of kilter and I keep hitting the wrong keys.

My colleagues know about my dyspraxia - I don't keep it a secret but it doesn't help them when I do things slowly and deliberately - even picking a teapot up can be almost in slow motion.

I'm not a therapist or psychologist but from my own experience, be patient, never tell the child that they're useless - I still believe it and have very low self esteem - and just be there to encourage.

Answer 3

I teach in the mainstream and i have taught a number of children with dyspraxia. It has become much better recognised and teachers are more aware of it. From my point of view we can work best when we are fully aware of the childs particular strengths and difficulties. It varies widely. Other children need to be educated about it as well. Communicate regularly with school and make sure that the school is doing everything that it can.

Answer 4

My daughter has dyspraxia from Rett Syndrome. I think the best way to cope is to join online support groups. It helps to talk to parents who have been dealing with symptoms like dyspraxia for longer than myself.

Answer 5

I work with children with dyspraxia, sometimes called apraxia. The focus of our speech therapy is on /s/ blends, word ending sounds and vowels. I have not come across anyone with cognitive dyspraxia, but we are getting ready to refer a kindergartner for further educational testing who is dyspraxic.

Answer 6

Yeah i think my child has dyspraxia but has never been propaly diagnosed it started with her drawing circles for everything,very clumsy and unable to do normal childhood things,she is 14 years old now and still unable to ride a bike.she attends a special school and has done for 9 years it is easy to bring them up, i also find that she likes to spend time on her own,don't worry there is help out ther if you need it.

Answer 7

I have an 8 year with ADHD,SID including dyspraxia.
It affects his writting the most.
He sees a PT and OT AT SCHOOL 2X A WEEK

Answer 8

Hi!! Check out the studies with ambidextrous exercise! ( all limbs working together )

and chill out because it works! AND it's a good excuse to take more time out ( which you should be doing anyway ;0) to play sports with your child.

football ( soccer ), climbing ( with ropes ), fun stuff basically that will have both sides of the body working and therefore increase the neural pathway fitness on all the lobes of the brain

Get out there and have fun guys!!

Answer 9

There is more than 1 type of dyspraxia , speach & cognantive.

Answer 10

no, but there was a really good aticle about it in the Times Magazine on Sunday...