DH is certain he is dyspraxic but

[GodzillasBumcheek]

How do we get a 'diagnosis'. We already know that he is dyslexic, but he ticks almost every box with dyspraxia too, and we were wondering

a) how does he find out for sure
and b) is there any point in finding out for sure?!

just bumping this before i go to bed!

wHAT DO YOU WANT FROM A DIAGNOSIS?

errrr, DH, not DS or ...?
what would be the aim of having the diagnosis?

Ok, yes, DH.
He only got diagnosed dyslexic at 21!

What he would want from diagnosis is to tell certain people that his chronic travelsickness is NOT all in his mind, that there is a reason why he keeps dropping/ bumping into/breaking things, and why he can't filter people voices when in a noisy room. That would hopefully help him in looking for work, but we don't really know.

Sorry will have to get back to this tomorrow

there are a couple of books about dyspraxia or developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD)as it is called now.
I worked in a DCD clinic for awhile with children up to 18. They tended to have difficulties with things like writing, getting dressed, ball games, riding bikes etc. Does your dh have have hypermobile joints ?
Part of the programme involved strengthining the core muscles and balance excersises to help the body perform better.

here or here

I'd contact dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk and ask them. I can certainly see how a diagnosis would help with job seeking etc. Dyslexia is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act and I would imagine dyspraxia would be too. That should mean that there is more awareness in the workplace.

You may need to start by going to see your GP to get a referral. I've just got a referral to a specialist Asperger's clinic for myself.

For me it was it explains so much, and for my own sanity I need to go through the process of diagnosis.

There is a huge amount of ignorance about regarding dyspraxia in children, so even more regarding adults I would imagine. As swedish mum said contact the Dyspraxia foundation. I am a member of my local group (my DD2 has it). There is also a group for adults I think so may well be the case where you live.

I'd imagine a visit to the GP would be a good starting point and he'll probably refer you to an Occupational Therapist for assessment.
If it were me I'd also want a diagnosis and I think your dh is right to seek one, for his own sake and to explain to others.
I was at the dyspraxia conference here in Ireland a few months ago and they'd fairly recently started an adult support group and some of the members spoke. I found it very moving. We tend to think of children having these conditions, but there must be so many undiagnosed adults about.

I don't think you need to see your GP, though it wouldn't hurt.

You need to see an educational psychologist who specialises in adult assessment.

Dyspraxia Foundation should be of some help here. You may have to pay though, you could be looking at £500,it ain't cheap.

A GP referral to and Ed Psych would be free though...

Unless it is serious enoguh to affect basic skills in day to day life I suspect he wouldn't get a nhs referral. It is hard enoguh to get a free OT and Ed Psych assessment for a child ime.

We've just had dd diagnosed as dyslexic and I very strongly suspect she is dyspraxic as well - the ed psych told us if we wanted her assessed to go to the GP and ask for an OT referral. So far I haven't bothered and unless it becomes more of an issue probably won't.

I do seriously think I was/am dyspraxic though it seems to have got better as I've got older. I couldn't tie my shoelaces until I was 14 and was very clumsy. I'm still quite clumsy I guess, very uncoordinated - hopeless at aerobics, etc. Not corssed my mind to get me properly diagnosed though.

Sometimes a diagnoses is useful for friends and family too. A friend recently found out her older brother has a recognised condition and isn't just "a bit odd", as they always referred to him.
This has helped her relationship with him and she has more patience with his lack of social skills, and obsessive behaviour, and she feels less embarassed by him. He's 50ish, and it would have been helpful if he'd had this diagnosis years ago she thinks.

Thank you all for your help.
Yes, he does have hypermobile joints, and poor grip. He gets alot of pain in his knees too, although he won't tell the jobcentre for some reason. I think he's embarrassed!

I will have a look at the dyspraxia foundation website, but we would have to go through the gp or not at all, as we just haven't got the cash to pay for it privately (otherwise we would have paid by now for our DTDs to be tested for dyslexia).