Dad convinced I don't have Dyspraxia

[cinaminvanilla]

Name changed for this post

Starting my masters next month and have decided to tell the uni that I have Dyspraxia, I was diagnosed when I was very young before I started primary school. The thing that annoys me is that my Dad is convinced that I don't have dyspraxia, he says its something I had when I was a kid and I've grown out of it. Because of my Dad's attitude I didn't tell the university when I was doing my undergrad about my dyspraxia in case my Dad found out. I remember when I started driving lessons I told the instructor that I had dyspraxia and my dad told me that I didn't have it any more. It's frustrating that someone that I love is so clueless when it comes to this. I know this isn't really an AIBU because I know I'm not being unreasonable but just needed to get this off my chest.

My son has it and I know a few, I suspect a sister and I both have it but were never diagnosed. You don't out grow it. You may get better at managing it. You are over 18 it has nothing to do with your dad. Don't be ashamed

I have dyspraxia. I'm mid 40s. My parents were relieved to find out there was a reason why I am / was so clumsy. Just tell them!

I was diagnosed with it at a very young age too- was called Clumsy Child Syndrome at the time. You definitely don’t grow out of it! Like myself, you’ve probably just learnt to cope with it better as you’ve grown up, which is probably why your Dad thinks you no longer have it. Ignore him!

I've just asked for my son to be assessed for this, he is 13 years old. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated! I'm pretty clueless at the moment.

Is your dad qualified to diagnose it?! I’m 41 and haven’t “grown out of it yet”

I’m also dyspraxic, my mum asked me recently if my fiancé “also has that stupid handwriting like you”. Fiancé also has dyspraxia

@redheadwitch

I've just asked for my son to be assessed for this, he is 13 years old. If anyone has any advice it would be much appreciated! I'm pretty clueless at the moment.

What advice do you need? How does it present in your son? It can’t be cured but it can be managed using various coping strategies.

Replace regular laces with elastic laces or Velcro/elastic/zip shoes.

Do sports that don’t involve a bat/ball, eg swimming, rock climbing, running.

Keep floors clear so there is less to trip over.

Use a plastic beaker so it doesn’t smash when you drop it, or a bottle so it doesn’t spill when you knock it over.

I have dyspraxia that has got worse as I’ve got older but equally I’ve got better at coping with and hiding it.

My prat of a brother is convinced that my youngest, who has it diagnosed, will "grow out of it". I'm fairly confident I'm undiagnosed myself - to the point I'll get drink in coffee in a take out cup so I don't spill the bugger, plus handwriting is hell and physically painful and my general coordination is appalling.

My daughter has it. You don’t grow out of it from what I have witnessed- in fact it seems to be getting worse as she’s getting older.

Her dad can sometimes be in denial of it- he definitely was before she received her diagnosis. My dad also told me ‘there’s nowt up with her’ before her diagnosis. (The specialist who conducted a 4 hour test to diagnose her disagreed as did her teachers). I wonder if it’s a male thing generally to dismiss these things a little.

Ask him where he got his medical degree. I'm pretty sure I have undiagnosed dyspraxia, I can't tie my laces in the usual way and have to concentrate really hard even to do it as two loops tied together, I can't ride a bike and believe me I have tried many many times, I often trip over my own feet, knock things over. I drive automatic because the coordination needed for manual was mind boggling to me. My family just say I'm clumsy....

Yanbu. I have dyspraxia, diagnosed aged 20 when I became old enough and confident enough to ask for the assessment myself. Some things have got easier as I've got older and some things have got harder but you definitely can't grow out of it.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/treatment/

NHS claims a few mild children grow out of it - I never did just got better at coping with it knowing my limits and working round them or anticipating problems and try to preempt them.

I wonder if so HCP said similar to NHS page your Dad and it stuck?

At 18 the university wouldn't have said anything to your Dad - they can't really - but it's good you've told your next course.

It is annoying - I have family members who dismiss conditions we have or other close relatives have - though FIL has mouthed of to wrrng people at wrong time and been aggressive and loudly "educated" about how wrong he was about some conditions and had tBF been better after - just wouldn't seem to listen without big scene.