Any adult dyspraxic women?

[Dyspraxiaexploring]

I’ve recently been formally diagnosed… anyone else out there? How does it impact you? What strengths do you have?

Because it seems obvious to me that anyone with coordination problems and lack of spacial awareness is going to be a more dangerous driver. There is even a poster or here who admits she bumps into things when walking but doesn't see the relevance to driving!

And of course drinking is relevant. If you have a legal licence, and it is legal to have an alcoholic drink before you drive, then it is legal for a dyspraxia to have an alcoholic drink too. So someone with coordination difficulties can legal take a drug which causes further coordination difficulties and then get behind the wheel...

Yes of course I know dyspraxics who have struggled with driving. If you are not clumsy with coordination difficulties, then why would you be referring to yourself as dyspraxic? If you are clumsy with coordination difficulties, then clearly you are not as safe to drive as someone who isn't.

I think it is selfish to drive if you are dyspraxic, as I don't see how you can possibly as safe as someone who isnt. It is fine to struggle on bravely to try and manage things that are difficult for us, but when that struggle puts other people's lives at risk, it is time to draw the line

Yes, I second being unable to knit or crochet.

@suki1964 Oooh I'm multi handed too. I'd be interested to know if that's common amongst dyspraxics.

I'm dyspraxic. I went on Radio 2 with Dr Sarah Jarvis to discuss it a few years ago. I tweeted her and asked when they were going to cover it and was invited on.
It affects me in many ways, I failed six driving tests and gave up learning. I often come a cropper on my bicycle. Both my jobs are very patient with me. In my shop job I dropped something once and explained to the customer about my Dyspraxia. He told me I was in the wrong job. I replied VERY firmly that I was in the right job but it just took me a little longer to get things done. I now proudly wear a badge that says I have dyspraxia. There was a really cool badge that said "I'm not drunk, I'm dyspraxic!"🤣 My boss was a meanie and wouldn't let me buy it! In my school job the first aid trainer was incredibly kind and helpful recently.
I also struggle with stairs and use a lift more now. I find it hard with my balance and with turning round too quickly. I recently ended up sprawled across the coffee table much to my mums alarm! I don't know my left from my right.
I'm almost certain my Grandad had it as my Grandma said he didn't know his left from right. My Dad has appalling handwriting like me and my son has been diagnosed too.

I do everything else with my right hand but iron with my left!!

Or just don't drink and drive???

I'm dyspraxic. I can't park AT ALL. But I'm a safe driver.

me too

If you are not clumsy with coordination difficulties, then why would you be referring to yourself as dyspraxic? If you are clumsy with coordination difficulties, then clearly you are not as safe to drive as someone who isn't.

I think it is selfish to drive if you are dyspraxic, as I don't see how you can possibly as safe as someone who isnt.

Well, I refer to myself as dyspraxic because I have a diagnosis of dyspraxia. Not because I am 'clumsy with coordination difficulties'. That describes part of some people's presentation of dyspraxia, but it doesn't describe everyone.

I struggle with stairs too, but escalators even more

I failed almost all my exams at school too. In the last three years ds has done Level 2 and 3 BSL online. Thankfully I stayed in touch with his OT from school. This enabled me to ask him to write a report which enabled ds to have extra time and someone with him.

Ooh, I am so excited about all the multi-handed people!
Isn't it cool?!

I have heard a theory that dyslexia may have to do with not having a very strong distinction between the two hemispheres of the brain. I wonder if dyspraxia might have, too?

But that doesn't work. If someone is a legal driver, then they are legal with any amount of alcohol in their blood, up to the legal limit. Same as everyone else. You can't say dyspraxics can drive the same as everyone else, but not after a glass of wine. The are either as safe as everyone else, or they are not. And I think not

But that is 99% of what dyspraxia is. Why would anyone even be considered for a diagnosis if they were not?

Fortunately, it's not up to what you 'think'.

There's a little thing called a driving test.

No, it isn't 99% of what dyspraxia is.

I was considered for a diagnosis because I presented like a dyspraxic. If it bothers you, I'm dyslexic as well. I can't catch a ball for toffee, but last I checked, catching balls wasn't actually part of driving. Driving itself I find fine.

Many years ago I was in London with ds and my best friend. We got to an enormous down escalator which was broken. My friend took ds by the hand and went ahead of me. I literally went down one step at a time two feet on each step. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the up escalator moving which made me ten times worse. The lines on the steps when I looked at them made me wobbly too.
Ds waiting at the bottom got VERY impatient much to my friends embarrassment. Echoing up the escalator I could hear...
"TUM ON MUMMA,TURRY UP.... WILL YOU TUM ON!!!" 🤣 🤣 🤣
Ironing striped clothes I find hard too.

The are as safe as everybody else. The standard of driving is pretty poor. People who know where their challenges and struggles are , are less likely to become complacent.

I took years and years to learn to drive - passed when I was 30 and still consider it to be my greatest achievement! I can’t judge speed and distance so am terrified of and actively avoid slip roads. I haven’t parallel parked since the day I passed my test and also have never driven a manual car since (I so wished I’d just learnt in an auto in the first place)
I didn’t know my left and right. Can’t follow an exercise class or hair styling tutorial ( mirroring someone is completely beyond my comprehension)
I can’t read maps or understand diagrams for flat pack furniture.
despite being a bright kid I struggled so badly to learn to tell the time, in the end I worked out that if for example the big hand was on 8, I would do sums in my head (8x5=40. 60-40 = 20; therefore it would be 20 to the hour) so I guess that was pretty clever of me to adapt that way as a small child!)
I have no sense of direction.
But! I have excellent fine motor skills! and I adapt to my ‘failings’ well - mentally noting landmarks etc and I most importantly know and accept my limitations - I don’t just wing it and hope (particularly re driving and parking).
I get very frustrated when people say re driving that if I just practiced rather than avoided what I struggle with I’d eventually learn, but to me that’s akin to telling someone with dyslexia to just read more books.
My brain is wired differently and I have accepted this, I’m 50 now and accept that this is what i am - even though I’d desperately love to be ‘normal’.

It's really interesting! Not something I've ever looking into before :D

I can write with both hands, am brilliant at applying nail varnish with both hands, play mini golf left handed and eat the left handed way but use my right for everything else.

But there are conditions that mean you are banned from driving, even if you pass the test, and I don't understand why dyspraxia isn't one of them. it beggars belief to me that people diagnosed with a condition that means they are unable to accurately judge speed and distance, or coordinate themselves, are allowed to drive. I am never going to change my mind about that, and if you have very very very mild indeed dyspraxia, and are not affected, then again, I don't understand why you would refer for an assessment

Anyway, no point in repeating myself over and over again! Just take it as read, that whatever arguments anyone puts forward for why they believe they are justified in taking that risk on behalf of everyone else on the road, I totally disagree

I'm good at laughing at myself as a result of doing it as a coping strategy as a kid - now it's my default personality and I can charm my way through life 😊

My executive function is poor. I can't remember more that 4 things at once so have to write things down or repeat them to myself. I can be heard chanting things like 'bin, tea, present, washing, pegs' or similar nonsense as I walk round the house or I will forget the small list of tasks that I am in the middle of. I have to remind myself that I'm actually very bright and capable, not a babbling idiot.

Ball catching, team sports, cycling, swimming, roller skating and brain surgery are not for me.

I can drive. Very well.

I can walk up hills but struggle coming down.

Ladders are baffling and scary.

If I carry more than one object per hand I will lose or drop something. Helpful to remember in airports and I put everything in ONE bag.

Natural hair and makeup is my default as I can't do anything else.

I can only listen to one thing at a time. If two people speak at once I hear nothing but noise. (Looking at you DC).

If I can't see something it disappears from my memory. So clothes at the back of the wardrobe get forgotten and then we have a happy reunion when we find each other during a spring clean.

My super power is perseverance to break things down until I understand them. Brilliant for getting clarity, especially in work meetings and I often get thanked by people who were too afraid to ask basic questions for fear of looking stupid.
It infuriates bullshitters though. Sorry Steve, what exactly do you mean by that and does it result in any actions for my team?
For years I thought it was me not 'getting it' at work. As soon as I had the courage to say that I didn't understand I got praised for being clear thinking and strategic. I wish my 20 year old self had known!
Maybe that's not dyspraxia though, but unless I really fully understand something, my brain goes 'nope, too complex, keep asking'.

if you have very very very mild indeed dyspraxia, and are not affected, then again, I don't understand why you would refer for an assessment

I don't haver very mild dyspraxia.

I was referred for assessment multiple times through my education, because I was really struggling.

You're being incredibly rude on this thread.

Seems to be common amongst those that are replying

Im dysphasic, dyslexic and aspi - none diagnosed until my late 30s ( Im 60 this year) and to be honest its doesn't mean much to me. I knew I was dyslexic even though back in my childhood it wasn't a condition, I just had to get on with it. I can read, write and spell and I love that we now have keyboards. For me I struggle when Im writing freehand to shape letters, I know the spelling, but suddenly I forget how to shape a P and will put a B instead ( happened then as typing, thank you for spell check and auto correct ) I dont have much from my school years but those bits I do have that are hand written, good cursive writing - with the odd capital stuck in the middle :) I still do it, be writing away and then when looking at it all these odd capitals scattered through because the flow stops as i have to think about how to shape and the capital is always the easiest - a p and b look the same to me yet a P and B I can see are different

I was always the clumsy one. Even DH who I have been with for coming 40 years , torments the life out of me for my clumsiness and whilst it comes from a place of care and love, it can be totally annoying. He will take things from me to let him do it as it will be safer and quicker. Yes I am totally crap with DIY, but for some reason Im a whiz in the kitchen and when he sees me going 19 to the dozen cooking for the masses, he does try to stop me, slow me down, yet Ive never come to harm. I can juggle it all, but give me a screwdriver and Im liable to loose a finger at least

Being an Aspie, well that has its own challenges lol.

Have having any of these conditions held me back. Probably. But then was I ever going to be a brain surgeon or go on to split an atom?

There is a lot on here I really relate too - carrying more than one thing at once! yes! I don't know how many times I have carried tow cups of tea into a room, put one down and styed holding on to that one, and let go of the other one!

Does any one else feel pain on the wrong side of their body?

I am not diagnosed but am 100% certain I am dyspraxic

I can drive perfectly well thank you very much. Passed my test first time and have driven hundreds of miles a week for the last 30 years without a problem

I can also swim very well and was a county swimmer

However, I have no hand eye co-ordination and can’t play any ball sports at all. I can’t dance, I can’t keep time, I can’t do any gym classes with a routine.

i can’t map read or remember directions, I lose my car every time I park it. I can’t draw or understand perspective

I spill food down myself, I miss my mouth when drinking, I drop things and smash things almost daily and I walk into furniture, lamposts walls daily and am covered in bruises. I also trip over my own feet and have fallen flat on my face in the street many times

I can’t control the pitch of speak and am frequently told I am shouting when I am not and I often repeat myself several times

I can’t use any can opener except the basic old fashioned ones, can’t use scissors properly and could never colour inside the lines

weirdly I am tidy and organised and my fine motor skills aren’t bad at all. Have no problem with writing, cutlery, doing hair, tying laces etc

i have a senior job and do really well but do struggle to get what’s clear in my mind onto paper although can explain it verbally. Luckily o have a wonderful assistant who is very good at making sense of my ramblings and putting them into coherent documents

I wish I had been diagnosed as a child. My family still insist I am just clumsy but I can’t see how I can not be dyspraxic