Dyspraxia information or advice please

[StressedToTheMaxx]

My dd 9 years has been diagnosed with a poor working memory.
She has had speech and language input when she was younger and was diagnosed with a poor working memory by CAHMS.

But- Her co ordination is horrendous. Her hand writing is messy (but she is great at reading and spelling)
She fidgets nonstop. She loses everything and struggles to understand tasks. She can't ride a bike or tie her laces. (I have truly tried)
She struggles with maths and just can't understand it.

I heard of Dyspraxia on tv- a person was explaining the condition- and i was sitting going thats dd, thats dd, oh thats dd too. She ticked everything bar one.
She is an anxious wee thing but she still makes good friends.
I dont want the doctor/school to think I am some crazy lady who needs a child with a 'condition.'
But I researched dyspraxia and everything seems to fit.

I dont know if i should do something now- ie go to the doctors or school -or sit and wait and see if her teacher brings up any issues to me.
I just want to help dd and support her if I can

I have a DD1, 19, formally diagnosed with dyspraxia aged 15. Would have been earlier but a) we put her difficulties down to something else, then b) I was fobbed off in primary in y6, then c) I didn't see that it would help having the diagnosis as it was obvious then d) we got a label for 6th form but then loads of other stuff became clear.

I also have a DD2 age 14 with poor coordination (bottom 1%), and some other SpLD but no formal 'label' as of yet.

I personally would find the best checklist you can (e.g. from the dyspraxia foundation), highlight all the things that your DD shows, and take it to the doctor and ask for an OT referral/assessment.

The earlier something is recognised, the sooner interventions or support can be put in place.

Tips:

Organisation - a place for everything, and everything in its place - always. Plus checklists and use them. Plus write things down, don't aim to remember.

Laces - Avoid - use Velcro. You can get no tie elastic laces too.

Maths - repeated practice of written methods. Give up on mental maths. (And I say that as someone with a maths degree)

Swimming is great for core stability and general coordination.

Find a learn to type child's programme and try that. DD1 really took to touch typing, DD2 found having a laptop in secondary more stress than helpful.

www.fantasticdyspraxic.co.uk/

Also look in the SN Chat section here.

No advice OP but watching this thread with interest as DS(7) I suspect has dyspraxia but I haven't chased a diagnosis either for exactly the same reasons as you.

He constantly fidgets, can't tie laces/ride a bike. Terrible co-ordination & motor skills when younger but have improved with a gym class & Swimming. Constantly drops things, awful hand writing/drawing etc! He sounds very similar to your DD. Hope you get someone along soon who can give you some good advice.

TeenTimesTwo thank you so much for all the information.
I think I may go back to the doctor, I just worry they think I am continually inventing problems with her. I just want something-if there is a problem- in place before she goes to high school. (Still a few year to go of course)
I will defiantly look at the website also.
Thank you so much again.

You can improve the things you most care about with practice.

With DD1 her handwriting is OK as we practiced it, but her throwing and catching are hopeless, because we didn't. Friends DC has average balls skills through a lot of practice but pretty dire handwriting as they switched to laptop in y5.

I think the label is helpful for the DC. They can think 'I struggle with this because of my dyspraxia' rather than thinking to themselves 'I'm hopeless'.

Daniel Ratcliff (Harry Potter) has dyspraxia.

DD1 and DD2 saw an OT within 6 weeks of each other. They both had to do similar things, though some of DD2's were easier.

• walk forwards / backwards on a line heel to toe
• throw a bean bag at a target
• trace a pencil through a maze
• put pegs into a board
• go on all 4s and lift up left leg & right arm and balance

The primary then did OT exercises with DD2 to help her core stability (which is one of the things that triggers fidgeting).

Have a look at the dyspraxia foundation website. They list expected milestones by age which you can then compile into a list to take to your gp. OT exercises can make a difference as can things like a move n sit cushion, pencil grips, writing slope etc.

I have dyspraxia. Trust me the earlier you get it diagnosed the better. My mum said she always knew i was different to other kids my age but noone listened.
Then she met another mum whos daughter also has it. She recommended a book and armed with the info my mum went through the junior school to get me diagnosed. My close friends (whos mum told my mum about it) also has it but it wasn't officially diagnosed for her til she was 16 so she didn't get any support at school. I didn't get much from school but I did get extra time in exams which helped so I could slow my writing in order to make it legible. It's like my brain is 3 sentences in front of my hand which leads to me missing words out etc. My mum coached me so much after the diagnosis. I think she must have read every book published on dyspraxia. She pushed me to achieve so much. I was told I'd never ride a bike, play ball sports, hold down a career, they didn't even think I'd make it to GCSE.
Due to mums pushing and a fair share of my own determination I am now a qualified nurse, band 6 (not entry level for those who don't know the banding systems) I played football for my school team and I can ride a bike as long as I don't go slow I can drive a manual car (at any speed). I can't play tennis etc very well but I did boxing to try and help with hand eye coordination.
My friend has also done fantastically but she had far less support then I had both at home and school and so I feel was disadvantaged. She can't drive alho she is learning, can't ride a bike but her writing is better then mine as that's what she was coached on by her parents. She managed to go travelling for a gap year, did university and is working in job that appreciates her quirks and she's thriving.

I find I don't like tight clothes but I have to have a heavy duvet or blanket etc when I'm resting etc or I feel uneasy. Still struggle with buttons. Avoid them on my own clothes and quite often have to get patients to either do thier own or I do them very very slowly.

As with anything there are degrees of severity and I think I have a mild form. (My official learning report for uni says that I have moderate dyspraxia and severe attention deficit disorder (not hyperactivity thankfully))
Sorry for rambling but basically if you think she's got it then you need to push her to be checked. They'll rule it out if it isn't that and help her if it is.

Thank you so much everyone.
I looked in to the milestones part and dd was late on crawling-she walked first and was still late with that.

I had dd at a gymnastics class but it was more like a fitness class. Which has helped somewhat with co ordination but it's still pretty poor for 9.
I defiantly am going to print of a check list and go to the doctors with her.
Even just to discuss it at this stage and see thier thoughts.