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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

how do you if your child has dyspraxia or is just a bit a clumsy?

42 replies

windchimes · 05/02/2014 21:34

DS1 seems to have no spacial awareness at all

He walks into doors, falls of off chairs just by sitting on them

Spills almost any drink he is handed etc

I'm heard about dyspraxia but don't no alot about it

How can I find if this is something he may have instead of me just thinking he is clumsy

OP posts:
Original poster
windchimes · 05/02/2014 21:36

sorry I ment to post this in chat

Can it be moved please?

OP posts:
stargirl1701 · 05/02/2014 21:37

Report your own post to MNHQ and they'll move it, OP.

OuterFromOutersville · 05/02/2014 21:37

You can report your post and ask for it to be moved Smile.

Ghostsdonttalk · 05/02/2014 21:38

You need to go to see either health visitor or GP who can refer to Occupational Therapist for assessment.

jacks365 · 05/02/2014 21:39

Can I mark place before it moves as I have concerns about my dd too.

NinjaBunny · 05/02/2014 21:40

Has he had his eyes tested?

I see okayish but without my glasses I have no spacial awareness and am always walking into door.

I have 2 permanent bruises on my arms..!

akachan · 05/02/2014 21:48

Does it matter? Genuine question. Whether he's clumsy or dyspraxic, would it change how you deal with it?

vorpent · 05/02/2014 21:51

The Dyspraxia Foundation has a helpful list of symptoms you might see in children at different stages of development. Your ds wouldn't have to have every single symptom, it's a spectrum, and presents very differently in different people.

Is he school age? If so, poor handwriting is often the reason why it gets picked up. Not everyone with dyspraxia necessarily has handwriting difficulties though.

I'd say it's definitely worth going to your GP and asking for a referral to a paediatrician. After all, you've nothing to lose really. If you post in Special Needs, people more expert than me will be able to advise.

Topaz25 · 05/02/2014 22:24

I have Dyspraxia and spatial awareness is a symptom I struggle with. Other symptoms are hand eye coordination, which can affect throwing and catching and copying from a board. If he is in school I would ask his teachers if they have noticed any of these issues. I agree with the advice to ask a GP for a referral. It is a good thing that you have noticed these issues, the sooner he gets support the better.

Topaz25 · 05/02/2014 22:26

akachan Being diagnosed made a huge difference to me in terms of how I saw myself and getting support at school. If the teachers think a child who struggles with handwriting or sports for example is clumsy or lazy they view them differently, once they understand it is a special educational need they can be more supportive and give more specific assistance. My performance at school improved drastically after being diagnosed with Dyspraxia because I was allowed accommodations like using a computer more to do written work in class and extra time in exams to account for my slow handwriting speed. I would not have received this support if I was simply seen as clumsy, which is why a diagnosis is important.

Topaz25 · 05/02/2014 22:28

This infographic shows more of the symptoms of Dyspraxia:
www.dyspraxicfantastic.com/327/

castlesintheair · 05/02/2014 22:29

Go to an OT. Only way to get an accurate diagnosis imo. My DS has dyspraxia and is not clumsy btw.

akachan · 05/02/2014 22:31

So is clumsy considered to just be the child's own fault? Shouldn't any child struggling in a particular way be helped? I'm absolutely not saying you should not have had support I'm just not sure why one slow writer is allowed extra time and no another.

Topaz25 · 05/02/2014 22:38

I think all children should receive support for their individual needs. However in practice special needs have to be statemented to get provisions such as extra exam time.

My personal experience was that my Y5 teacher definitely assumed I wasn't trying hard enough, possibly because I sounded smart but couldn't get my thoughts down on paper. But she was a bitch. My diagnosis did coincide with the move up to Y6 and a more supportive teacher but I definitely received more specific accommodations and support once it was found that I had a recognised special need.

mrsjay · 05/02/2014 22:40

most children are not THAT clumsy what age is he ? if he is at school mention it to school as for an OT referral if you are worried

Topaz25 · 05/02/2014 22:44

Also Dyspraxia affects more areas of your life than just being clumsy so it is important that a child with Dyspraxia is diagnosed rather than just seen as clumsy because they might also need support in other areas (writing, organisation etc).

maillotjaune · 05/02/2014 22:51

DS2's dyspraxia diagnosis made a huge difference to him. He'd have had help for poor handwriting but it wouldn't have been as wide-ranging, or set up and supported by an OT who came to school to make sure the SENCO / teacher / TAs knew exactly what to do.

It was the reception teacher that suggested we ask the GP for an OT referral (and incidentally along the way found DS needed glasses which also had a major impact).

DS has poor spatial awareness but isn't clumsy in a falling over way at all. It has more of an effect on his ability to use cutlery, rulers, wipe his bottom and so on.

devilinside · 05/02/2014 22:53

I have all those symptoms and have been diagnosed high Asperger's traits, my son has all those traits and has ASD diagnosis. Dyspraxia has never been mentioned, but I'm pretty sure we both have it. Took me until 40 to pass my driving test and still don't know left from right

elliejjtiny · 05/02/2014 23:03

I have dyspraxia. How old is your DS? It's harder to tell with younger children but when they get to school age it becomes more obvious.

Topaz25 · 05/02/2014 23:11

devilinside I have Aspergers and Dyspraxia, they can be related. I'm going to learn to drive this year, I'm a bit worried about it!

goldenlula · 05/02/2014 23:11

My ds2 is 5. I have suspected for a very long time that he may have dyspraxia, we are under a community paediatrician, OT and speech therapy (his speech is good, but his understanding and communication is a problem). Looking at one of the links on here he has most of the signs, but he can ride a bike without stabilisers, which I have read is almost impossible for a child with dyspraxia. I just wish I knew what his problems were, then we could move on with dealing with them.

Original poster
windchimes · 05/02/2014 23:15

He is 12.

OP posts:
Original poster
windchimes · 05/02/2014 23:20

He can catch a ball if it's a big one but trying to kick a ball ends up in comedic moments hence his hate of football!

His handwriting is poor always has been but the teachers said that was because he was left handed (like me ) and not tryng hard enough

He struggles with using cutlery and would much rathr eat food that can be pick up , sandwiches, pizza's etc than tackle a meal that involves a knife and fork

OP posts:
Pigsmummy · 05/02/2014 23:33

Get a sight test done if you haven't already.

mrsjay · 06/02/2014 09:25

He struggles with using cutlery and would much rathr eat food that can be pick up , sandwiches, pizza's etc than tackle a meal that involves a knife and fork

I would contact the school or go to your GP ask for a referral it might not be dyspraxia but If you are concerned that his clumsiness goes beyond then he needs to get checked out , especially if he struggles with hand writing he will have exams in a few years, and if he is dyspraxic or has co ordination problems then he can get extra support which will make a huge difference to him,