Dyspraxia

[Jj2431]

Hi.

I think my 12 year old son may have Dyspraxia. He's intelligent but struggling to keep up at school, takes time to work out basic skills such as holding scissors, still can't tie shoes, is accident prone and much more..my question is, how do we get a diagnosis? I feel it might help if we can tell the school if he does end up being Dyspraxic. Can anything help at this age? Thank you

I suspect this is oe of those things that will have different routes in different Health Authorities.

Here, you would need to go to the GP, who would refer to a Paediatrician at the Child Development Centre, who would then get an expert assessment from OTs (Occupational Therapists). But I think there is a level at which it has 'considerable impact' on the child.

You might also find information about an OT advice line or help line on your Local Authority's Local Offer website - but that will depend on them employing any OTs, which is not a given.

My DS has dyspraxia. We are in Ireland but it may be similar in the UK.
His teacher suspected it and we got a referral to an Occupational Therapist and speech therapist through the school. The OT confirmed that his motor skills would be that of a child with dyspraxia.
The waiting list here is very long so we saw a Psychologist privately who believed him to have dyspraxia and that got us into the public system.
He was then assessed by a team and a paediatric consultant who officially diagnosed him. The process here took about 3 or so years and we are now getting the help he needs.

There's a lovely dyspraxia group on fb. My lad was suspected dyspraxic but they didn't look further, he's diagnosed asd/gad

DC1 is dyspraxic - GP got her an OT assessment and the OT then went into school to observe. However we needed to pay for a private Ed Psych report for access arrangements for public exams.

Both my sons are dyspraxic, in the UK. Both with a diagnosis. What you will need is a paediatrician to refer him for an occupational therapist assessment. You may need to go via your GP. Do it now, because it could take years. There's very little support out there for dyspraxia, but the diagnosis is useful in itself. I gave up on school in the end, and home educated my two, because school failed to meet their needs. Not an option for many, I know.