dyspraxia

[Miffypoppy]

My son is 15 and has GCSEs next summer.He has mild dyspraxia which mainly manifests itself in difficulty in organising his thoughts/work, plus he is v clumsy and lacks physical co-ordination - fidgets all the time, can't concentrate,finds it hard to organise his revision, painfully long homework,lack of depth in his written work, etc.I've have been advised to consider medication for a period of time pre exam to help him concentrate and I'm assuming it will be ritalin.

Before we consider this further does anyone have any experience with medication for dyspraxia? Are there a range of drugs available and if so are any more effective than others? Side effects? Did it make a big difference to your child?

I'm really not keen on the medication route but would consider it if the postives outway the negatives. Would really appreciate some feedback ...

OP, just wondering how your son was diagnosed ie by what sort of medical professional and who is recommending medication?

I have dyspraxia. Both my daughters have severe dyspraxia. I find this thread....amazing really. I think people are confusing challenges arising from dyspraxia and challenges arising from other conditions (eg ADHD).

I'm seriously impressed with the dyspraxic DS who can skateboard - I wouldn't dare go near a board - but my severely dyspraxic daughters can both surf (not brilliantly but they can do it without wiping out). So I know dyspraxics can do some amazingly 'co-ordinated' things if they learn the knack, especially if there isn't actually much hand eye coordination (or leg eye I suppose) involved.

theta can you drive?

No. :( It wouldn't be wise.

Nottirednow In my experience as a person with dyspraxia I agree with you that its much more than just the physical issues, however also in my experience as a dyspraxic person as well as a mother of dyspraxic children dyspraxia doesn't automatically mean poor educational performance or outcomes. In my family, the people with dyspraxia are the people who are academically outstanding.

One of the things we have had to battle against is that first impressions of DDs' school work (and mine when I was a kid too, I guess.....) would indicate - bad students who don't care about what they are doing and who are either lazy or worse. The penny drops soon enough but it can be so frustrating (for the girls mainly) and this can reflect in their mood.

Thx all

Tokyonambu- agree sardines on toast the tops!
jem 44 - thx for feedback on Ritalin .Have just found out that a friend's son who has aspergers has just started - he is a year into uni and it all went pear shaped. Too early to tell about the drugs but will now have good close feedback. Good to knwo it worked for your friend.

For any other parents out there who are at their wits end with kids with dyspraxia, we have just managed to get an appointment for Ds at the Dyscovery centre in Newport. From trawling the interweb and reading anything I can find it over the last couple of years, seems that they are the UK leading experts.Unit headed up by Proff Amanada Kirby who has written several books and seems to be the only professional i can find who really gets it.Fingers crossed that they can give DS some good practical advice .

Well done. I hope you get the advice you need. Love to know how you get on.

Tokyo I know Ritalin is regarded very much as a chemical cosh is the UK and I am not recommending its use as I am no expert on the effects of drugs but I am aware of the utter misery caused to children in schools by these conditions. They are very common and and therefore normal but their effect on a child's progress and confidence is huge.

Having looked through a number of reports/articles by medically qualified people, it does seem true that the drug is more favourably regarded in some quarters and in America so I see no harm in looking into it further with informed opinions from professionals.

Hi there I know this is a long time ago but I’m in the same situation- any advice in retrospect?

That doesn't sounds like mild dyspraxia to me, sounds like there's more going on that hasn't been diagnosed - especially if you are thinking he needs ritalin.

@Suemumof4 I suggest you start your own thread saying age/year group and what issues/advice you want, otherwise half the people will reply to the long gone OP. If you do that I'll reply as I have 2 with dyspraxia

Thanks - will do. I’m new to mumsnet!