Worried about DS - motor skills/speech/coordination

[Pammym]

I posted this earlier on health but think it belongs here instead. I am concerned about my nearly 6 year old DS and his development. He is struggling with his writing/pencil grip and his reading. He lacks coordination so he can be wobbly on his feet/clumsy. His speech is sometimes unclear and he can dribble when speaking. His hand/eye coordination is not good, he can't use scissors or do lego (but he can do Hama beads!).

When he runs it looks slightly odd - his head wobbles around and his arms are not co-ordinated. I have felt for a while that something isn't quite right and now his year 1 teacher has raised her concerns about his coordination, wobblyness and writing etc.

I am going to the Dr on Monday to ask for a referral but in the meantime am scaring the hell out of myself googling stuff - even querying muscular dystrophy! I do get a bit paranoid and keep trying to tell myself that something as severe as that would surely have manifested itself in a much more dramatic way by now?

Maybe he has some degree of Dyspraxia (though he has been riding his bike without stabilisers extremely well since he turned 4 and that's supposed to be one thing dyspraxic children find v. hard).

I would really appreciate any advice.

Thanks and sorry its long.

Dyspraxia springs to my mind actually.

Just try not to worry and et him checked out by professionals. It could be a number of things, but most of which with help and support he could improve.

Is he happy? Does he feel held back by these things? Does he even notice? That would be my biggest worry as a parent.

Agree it could yet be dyspraxia. It affects children differently, soem mreo fine than gross motor skills for example, but is very common , 1:20 more boys than girls. He is same age ds was when first assessed -he is dyspraxic and has some hypermobility. The difference between him and his peers became much more noticeable. You need to ask for referral to a paed then OT.

Yes, dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder . Dyspraxia is more specific and relates to the planning of movements whereas Dcd is more generalised and common. Presentation does vary and if a child practices a skill hard enough (ie cycling or Hama beads) they can perfect it. Novel or unfamiliar tasks are more difficult. Ask GP for a referral to a developmental paediatrician and OT and in the meantime speak with your dc's school SENCO as they should have lots of ideas as how to support him in school and progress his motor skills.

Thanks all, I really appreciate your advice. I have made an appointment to see the Dr next week and am going to ask for a referral.

Overmy - he is not at all concerned about it at the moment but I am worried that as he gets older, the gap between him and his peers could widen.

LizS - do you mind me asking in what way your DS is different from his peers?

Mopandbucket - thanks for your advice & information, its really helpful.

At that age he wasn't as physically adventurous as his peers, never really walked but ran, difficulty writing and organising thoughts on paper yet articulate and imaginative, problems with dressing ie. slowchanging for pe and issues with buttons etc, sensitive to noise level, lack of interest and involvement in team games such as football

Thanks Liz. I am just trying to gather as much info as possible at the moment to try and figure out what is going on with DS. x

some of the stuff you mention sound like hypotonia - eg low muscle tone. Loads of possible causes for this and sometimes of no known cause. You are doing the best thing taking him to the GP.

Let us know how it turns out.

Thanks narmada. Will def update once I get any news.
x