friends son just diagnosed with dyspraxia

[triplets]

My friends son who is one of triplets has just today been diagnosed with this, she is very upset and feels a bad mother as her little girl was born with a cleft lip, so two out of the three have problems. How can I help her? I don`t know very much about it myself, THANKS.

[madmarchhare]

Theres a dyspraxia foundation website I think.

[madmarchhare]

\link{http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/\Here}

[LIZS]

It is really common - around 1:20 children , mainly boys have it to some degree. Reassure your friend that many such children go through life undiagnosed and struggle at school and home, but her son already has an advantage by being identified. It is not her fault at all.

Sometimes it exists with another condition , sometimes on its own with any number of permutations of symptoms. This can vary in degree physical clumsiness, awkwardness in fine and gross motor skills, balance can be affected, sensory issues, sometimes they are more significant. However with lots of patience and awareness, and Occupational Therapy if needs be, children can cope really well and overcome their difficulties. Also fish oil supplements may help him, at least definitely worth a try.

How old is her son ? If he is preschool age , lots of activities like arts and crafts, puzzles, sand and water, games could probably help him physically and with logical thought processes. Also he may need help with practising dressing in the correct order and with fastenings, planning how to carry out a task like going upstairs to his room and fetching something,step by step, how to climb a ladder or use a swing. he may or may not take longer ot potty train reliably. If older his teacher could help in the classroom by breaking work down step by step and reminding him as to what comes next, using a pencil grip to make wriitng less effort and making sure he is comfortably seated in class and keeping up.

hth

[triplets]

Thanks to both of you. He is 8, as I said one of triplets, I can`t help but feel it must be a mild form, surely it would have been picked up before now if he was really struggling.

[LIZS]

ds is 8 and although not formally diagnosed has many of the characteristic traits. He saw a paediatrician last autumn and may finally get to see an OT by the end of this year. Fortunately his problems were initially spotted while we lived abroad where help was easier to come by. His handwriting has come on so much in the last few months because he and another boy have had speciifc lessons to focus on it and general fine motor coordination. If his mum can get the school to help like this she may find that he copes perfectly well.

I have a list of activities somewhere, provided by ds' original OT, which may give her some ideas as to how to guide their play to help him. Also have a look at \link{http://www.dyscovery.co.uk/index.pl\the Dyscovery Centre} which offers information, practical help and products to make things a bit easier and explain the difficulties he may face.

[mumeeee]

My 14 year old has dyspraxia which was diognosed when she was about seven. She has gradully learnt to cope with it over the years although she is still very immature and seems like a small child at times.
The websites that have been suggested are good. There is alao a website that was set up by a dyspraxia boy and his parents which my daughter often posts messages on. This has helped her a lot and let her know that there are other children like her> The websites address is www.mats-hideout.co.uk.
This would be good for your friend and her son to look at.
Has your friend ben to see the senco at her sons school. My daughter had extra help at primary school and gets some support at high school although we did have to push for this. She is having a scribe for her yera nine SATs as she did for her year six ones. She is good verbally but very slow at getting things wrriten down and it takes her awhile to process her thoughts. She is on school action plus of the soecial needs register.
Well hope this helps