Any experience of Dyspraxia with bladder and sleep problems?

[Thewheelsarefallingoff]

My DD is nearly 8 and has wet herself at school for the 3rd time in as many weeks. She has some mild dyspraxia symptoms involving writing, sports, running, dancing and really struggles to copy physical movement (dance routines). DD had slightly delayed speech that was never quite bad enough to get help from SALT (not for lack of trying).

The school have possible dyspraxia on their radar, which has been something I have been thinking about for about 3-4 years, having come across it trying to make sense of the struggles DD was having.

The problem with needing the toilet immediately when she needs a wee and being unable to hold on seems to be getting worse rather than better. I will take her back to gp again, but does anyone else have experience of this with dyspraxia? DD also sleeps quite badly; needing to get up for the loo every night, having restless legs, waking early and never has been able to sleep before 9pm. This is having an effect on her at school too.

The first thing I'd want to rule out is a urinary infection if the day time is out of character.

Next of suggest having a read of the ERIC website about children's continence to see if there are any ideas there to help you. Might be something like a toileting schedule helps to avoid getting too the desperate point to late. I used a reminder watch with my DS, with vibrating alarms set for 90 minute intervals.

It could be that there is some relation in terms of her bodily sensations that links the continence to her possible dyspraxia, or it could be completely unrelated.

I think that regardless of a diagnosis you should still be able to get support to tackle the issues.

With regards to sleep, I would do some searches for info about sleep hygiene for children, to try to get some ideas. Be methodical and consistent, as far as you can.

this is interesting. my dd is similar.
off to bed now but will try to post more tomorrow.

Thanks for your response tatyr I haven't heard of the ERIC website, so will have a look. I look forward to your comments ARoom, it's good to know it's not just DD.

Could be a sensory issue - unreliable sensory signals from the bladder to the brain, makes kids think their bladder is fuller than it is, or conversely, that they don’t need the toilet when they do.

Is she constipated? One of my DD’s has had trouble with accidents as when she needed the toilet she wasn’t able to hold. We were on Movicol for a long time to get her bowels moving regularly and it seemed to sort itself out around the age of 8. Constipation can be a cause of daytime and nighttime wetting.

No she's definitely not constipated. Regular and untroubled in that respect.

Like I said, could be sensory. I diagnose stuff like this in the NHS, it’s my job. I’d look into it.

Thanks Meesh the GP hasn't been interested so far, I'll see how it goes this time. Which specialism will she need to be referred to?

Hi there. My DD now aged 14 has dyspraxia and both sleep and bladder control were and sometimes still are issues for her.

The bladder control was about not sensing she needed to go until it was too late. And then also having the planning skills to find a loo,
Take her clothes off in a hurry and not trip over on the way. We solved this by setting an alarm on her watch that reminded to decide if she needed the loo and also not wearing tights but long socks. This improved with age but she still sometimes now does not 'feel' or 'register' that her bladder is full.

For sleep the best thing our occupational health suggested was two heavy duvets. She needed the weight of them to signal to her body that is was relax and sleep time. That and talking tapes.

Have a look at the dyspraxia foundation website - lots of useful info. And of course push for review and assistance at the GP's.

Interesting sounds similar to my DD. She has coordination and balance issues and is currently going through the assessment process for dyspraxia which school was able to trigger. Have you had a chat with her teacher?

My DD was dry from 2.5yo and has been having accidents at night from 4yo and is now just 7yo. Sleep can also be broken with issues around going to sleep on occasion but always early waking. Never thought either issue could be linked but am now wondering.

My dyspraxic child was the same, we got permission from the teacher for her to get up and go straight to the toilet as if she had to go and ask it was usually too late. Also had a lot of urine infections.

For the sleep and restless legs, could you ask your GP about magnesium requirements for children? I see magnesium and vitamin D supplements strongly recommended for menopausal women with restless leg and trouble sleeping on these threads. Obviously don't know the dietary advice for children's levels though.

@TheWheelsarefallingoff -Occupational therapy (not health!) Is the specialism you need to ask for, there are paediatric specialists who would assist in the diagnosis process and also in practical suggestions to help your daughter to manage the things she needs to be doing x