Co-ordination Development Disorder - any advice grateful

[Imfeckinpetigo]

My dd, 7, has recently been diagnosed with CDD. It affects her quite badly in that she has difficulty writing, running, most ball sports, small motor skill things like doing buttons etc. We are very lucky where we live in that she is being given a lot of help from her school, extra motor classes and she goes to see an OT every week to work on her gross motor skills.

I am very happy and very grateful for everything that is being done to help and I'm very proud of her. She never complains about the fact there are things she simply can't do instead she smiles and laughs and tries so very hard.

However I am a bit worried about her behaviour in small things, for example she was always a bit scared of big dogs, this grew to a real fear of any dogs and now gone on to include cats (but only ones she doesn't know so far). She walks up to school every day with her friend, tomorrow her friend has an appointment first thing so I offered to walk up with her and her brother. She got herself in a complete panic, crying and very distressed about wanting to walk on her own but not being able to. We finally agreed not to talk about it again until tomorrow morning when she can decide what she wants. Last year she really enjoyed sledging, this year she wouldn't even get on the sledge even with me, she was sure she would fall off. Again she was very distressed and annoyed at herslef. Also I notice that she is struggling with her maths, sometimes she just can't seem to understand what she is meant to do.

I'm sorry this is such a book, really I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of CDD and if so are any of my dd's (sorry I don't want to use this word but can't think of another) issues related to it?

I am a single parent and sometimes find it difficult to explain to anyone properly about the little things as it is primarily me who is around to see them, so thanks to anyone who can offer any advice.

[Imfeckinpetigo]

Sorry my title fell a bit short, meant to say '.....gratefully received', doh!

[CarGirl]

I do know of a treatment that would help your dd but I don't know if it's available on the NHS or if cheaply anywhere.

Have a look at this questionnaire and website.

Had my dd treated as she had shocking gross motor skills and it worked very quickly.

www.inpp.org.uk/questions/index.php

Yes I think they could well be related because it creates that sort of flight or fight situation and she's gone for flight. It's all overwhelming to her?

Sorry I've not explained it well but read around the whole website, the brain is amazingly complex and if it's out of kilter the impact can be far reaching but it can learn to do things differently.

[sneezecakesmum]

You may get more advice if you post this on the Special Needs site. There are lots of kids on there with ? Dyspraxia (it sounds very similar to CDD)

[Imfeckinpetigo]

Thank you so much for replying, I will look at your link now.

Reading what you have said about fight or flight fits her so well, yesterday she opened the front door and a leaf blew past. She got such a fright, she screamed and ran then nervously started giggling and said 'a leaf mammy, it was only a leaf'. It seemed such an extreme reaction but she was scared, trying not to cry and shaking visibly.

Thank you again, I will let you know. I worry about her as I would hate for these little things to start getting out of control for her.

[Imfeckinpetigo]

Okay, thank you sneezecakesmum. I don't post very often (but do lurk around a lot!) so not very familiar with where would have been the best place for this. I shall try putting it up there as well, thank you again.

[CarGirl]

The practioner my dd saw dealt with her retained morro reflex which got rid of the jumping at everything reaction (and she started to sleep through the night - hurrah) and I'm not sure what it was to do with her upper and lower body co-ordination but she actually started to run "properly" and ride a scooter.

He explained that it causes conflict between the nervous system and the brain (or is it body) and the treatment gets them back in sync again. I'm sure it's much more complex than that but to me that made sense. The results certainly were very obvious in our dd - huge improvement within the first 6 weeks!

[Imfeckinpetigo]

That sounds amazing CarGirl, she sounds a lot like my dd!

I filled in the questionairre and got a lot more than 7 positive responses. I have the number now so shall ring them tomorrow, though I think it probably won't be pratical for us as we live on a tiny Scottish Island but I'm sure a phone call can't hurt.

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I do appreciate it.

[CarGirl]

That is a shame, perhaps you could travel to have one assessment and they could give you lots of guidance of what to do and how long for. We only saw the practioner about every 6-8 weeks.

Also that is only one training body/organisation I'm sure there are others out there using different techniques to achieve the same goal.

I don't know if you are old enough to remember when the Peto institute in Hungary hit the world news with their advancement in treated cerebal palsy

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/24/60II/main601944.shtml

This is also a form of treatment of NDD - it doesn't cure cerebal palsy but gives a huge improvement in quality of life because it reduces that brain/neuro/body conflict. The peto institute uses highly repetitive exercises to achieve it, the INPP use brushing (literally tiny artist paint brush used to stimulate particular neural pathways) - both do the same thing but in different ways.

the practioner I use is trained in both - I think he flies up to Glasgow every 6 weeks to run a clinic there!

[Imfeckinpetigo]

I do remember that story and the article is fascinating.

Glasgow is only a flight away and would not be totally out of the question once every 6 weeks, I would just have to save a little every month but if it meant an improvement for my dd I could live with that.

Having said that her motor skills are slowly improving it is just these 'other' things that seem to be getting worse but I'm sure it is related. Though the OT didn't seem sure.

I am definintely going to 'phone the INPP tomorrow, it sounds absolutely bizarre but sense all at the same time (and I know my dd would love to be brushed!).

[CarGirl]

The motor skills will slowly improve on their own but using NDD therapy will improve it and perhaps to extent higher than it would every get naturally. It does sound to me that it's related as well - certainly can't harm.