DCD, dyspraxia

[leamac]

Hi everyone me again

Does anyone know if there is a difference between dcd and dyspraxia.

My son was diagnosed 18 months ago, i was told at the time that he dcd and not dyspraxia but everyone i talk to seem to think they are the same.

Anyway I am a lonely mum on this one, and would love to talk to other mums who's kids are similar to my son as I know no one else who has a kid like mine.

L

[vicsta]

Can you read minds Leamac?

[Pollyanna]

What are your son's symptoms? How old is he?

I have a 9yo son who has this.

[leamac]

My son is alo nine, how lucky

His symptoms are mostly physical, very weak, he has real trouble crossing his midline, his movements are awkward and he has bad co-ordination, he also has language problems and finds it difficult to express himself, his brain doesn't file things away properly making him search for things especially when he speaks, he has severe problem with all motor skills, gosh the list goes on.

What about your son

[vicsta]

Hooray for Pollyana! I'm so glad someone who can help has been able to answer. Been keeping an eye on both threads for bumping purposes a I can't help at all. Other thread says OPs DS is 9 also! Am butting out now. Best of luck!

[vicsta]

Oooops. X-post Bye!

[leamac]

thankyou vicsta for your help

[Pollyanna]

I understand how you feel lonely, I am starting to feel very isolated with my ds - who has lots of problems.

Crap at sport and very clumsy too, but worse problems are:

really bad minor motor skills - handwriting appalling, eating very messy (also has oral dyspraxia).

He did have speech problems, but these are ok now

social problems - over-reacting (either too excited or too angry or too upset about things), lack of social skills, doesn't understand social rules particularly, stands too close to people, misunderstands expressions, very literal etc etc

very disorganised - will always forget homework, drop things as he walks, loses things etc etc.

We are all finding it all veyr difficult at the moment- I think what was ok when he was 7 and under starts to show much more now. He is starting to get teased at school, and finds it very upsetting.

He does have lots of good points too, but atm his "differences" are causing him alot of anguish.

[expatinscotland]

Hi, leamac. From what I understand, DCD and dyspraxia are the same. Americans now almost always refer to it as DCD.

Our 5-year-old daughter has severe dyspraxia/DCD.

She has been retained at stage (Scottish for held back) in a nursery with an ASN/SEN unit attached.

Her differences become more marked as she gets older.

You are not alone, lea! Not here!

[leamac]

thankyou everyone

my biggest worry for my son is that he will end up getting bullied, just now he is a bit of a class clown, my son is very lucky in the sense where a lot of kids overreact emotionally my son is very reserved, he has no oomph if you know what I mean, he copes very well with his differences, however he is often forgot about as he just goes along with everything, never questioning anything, however he receives a lot of help physically but doesn't seem to be gettng any better,

I am so happy that i have other mums to speak to

l

[leamac]

hi explainitscotland

if you live in the highlands or near the highlands there is a wonderful organisation called hdcd which have been a great help to me

l

[expatinscotland]

hi, leamac.

i'm in the Argyll region.

i'll google them!

i'm also worried about bullying and DD1 being taken advantage of - she's very easily led.

[leamac]

yes so is my son but like all kids they do learn not to be so trusting, my son used to do everything that everyone told him, which was a really worry, but he sees a very good language therapist and the better understanding he gets of language the more he is becoming aware of his action and other peoples actions

I'm in the sutherland are although used to stay in north ayrshire

[leamac]

HI Pollyanna

I totally agree with you, the older they become the more noticeable it is, I also have concerns as to how I explain it to my son, what do you tell our son.

[Pollyanna]

I have discussed dyspraxia with my ds - he knows all about it. He knows for example that the reason his handwriting is bad is because of this. He is fine, but sometimes uses it as an excuse for bad behaviour!

He does worry that he is different and doesn't have any friends, but doesn't seem to realise that his behaviour is different (I think he feels different iysim but doesn't know what he does that is different).

My ds is now getting teased for his behaviour, but is just mystified by it all. I feel so sorry for him.

[leamac]

I havent discussed it with son at all, he doesn't seem to realise he is different. He has no behaviour problems that are obvious so other kids don't pick up on it, he does however struggle physically and he sometimes gets it about that, he is however in the fortunate situation of being at a very small school, only 25 n the whole school, there is only two other 9 year olds there one of which has adhd, also at his school is a deaf boy so there all treated as individuals.

[expatinscotland]

DD1 knows she has dyspraxia, but she doesn't really know what it means yet.

she does tell people that she is retained at stage because of her dyspraxia and that is why she drops things and trips a lot.

[leamac]

that is so sweet, I wish my son had been diagnosed at a younger age as the he would have grown up withit but he was only diagnosed 18 months ago, I think though I should have a talk with him as it may make things easier

[leamac]

pollyanna

what is oral dyspraxia as i have never heard the term

[expatinscotland]

she usually calls is 'mixpraxia'. it's why she mixes things up .

[leamac]

she sounds lovely, its funny how kids cope wit things and us adults get all worried, lets face it, they'll find their own way in life regardless, my son has a eally lovely content nature, he knows what he can and can do and always tries his best, there certain things he just won't do (like play football at the local club) andI just respect his wishes.

[Pollyanna]

leamac oral dyspraxia is where the muscles in the mouth don't work properly and the child has speech problems. In our case this was picked up before the dyspraxia when ds1 was about 20 months old. (He had a very wide vocabulary, but couldn't pronounce words properly and dribbled alot, also couldn't move tongue properly - it was very obvious).

He saw a speech therapist for a few years and now speaks very clearly, although is still a very messy eater.

[leamac]

Thats a real shame but glad to hear it was diagnosed early and the its now a lot better, gosh i think I know about dcd because of my son and then I hear something else, can i ask a question that may seem silly, is your son of normal height, my son is way below average and the doctor won't check it out and keeps referring to his dcd