Looks like ds had developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)

[BeaWheesht]

It has taken them almost an entire year to come to this conclusion and we are now waiting for a referral to the OT.

What can I expect? He's 6.

Do you mean from the OT or from the school? And can I just check, who is the "them" who has concluded he has dyspraxia?

Sorry no formal diagnosis just what they are thinking. They being the teacher and special needs support teacher.

Aha! Well, good that they have spotted it - can be quite difficult when they are in KS1 (I'm told, mainly KS2 myself).

You may have already seen this in which case sorry! If not, have a look at this link for more support/advice: www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/gu_children.php

Looks like the OT should be able to confirm a diagnosis, which would be very useful. And help with strategies too.

The school should be producing an IEP for him (although I hear this may change in the next year or so) and have him on the SEND registerso that there is a record going forwards. There's also a list of the sort of things they ought to be doing to try and help him in class here: www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/ed_classroom_guidelines.php

Depending on the severity they may need to consider such things as extra time in exams (when he is older) and so on too.

Hope that's of some use, and good luck!

Thanks. We are in Scotland if that makes a difference? Off to look at your links now, thanks again.

I would say things he struggles with are:

Writing and drawing and things like using Hama beads
Using a knife
Being generally clumsy
Hopping or anything that involves balancing
Loves football but misses ball and can't catch a ball reliably
Can't ride a bike - isn't even very good with stabilisers tbh
Can't swim
Can't use scissors very well

Other factors which may or may not be relevant...

He's quite a worrier and I don't want this to upset him
He often complains of tummy ache but for no discernible reason
He's had glasses previously and is under imvestigation for glue ear
He is very tall for his age so I'd previously thought this might be causing clumsiness
Didn't used to like getting hands sticky / dirty

No prob. Apparently there are slight differences in names/views: "The equivalent in Scotland is called Additional Support Needs (ASN). The principle difference being not confined to children whose need for special attention arises from disability or learning difficulties but from a range of factors e.g. being in hospital, death of a close family member."

Here's the full thing: www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/medical-conditions/sources-of-evidence-a-z/special-ed-needs.shtml

Have taught a couple of children like your DS - the good news is, they usually cope very well in a classroom situation provided they have a supportive and sympathetic teacher. The worrying is very strongly linked with dyspraxia and children benefit from extra reassurance and support especially for transitions and new situations. Just ensure that each year the teachers know he is likely to have difficulty with certain things, especially in PE/sport - in theory this gets passed up each year, but in practice sometimes the system seem to break down and I have heard of parents in England anyway being told things like "huh, strangely he can't use scissors/his handwriting is not very tidy"!! As he gets older you are likely to find he will need extra help with organising things like possessions and homework - again the more closely you can work with the school the better. And the OT should have some useful tips too. He is young yet, so it's hard to say how much help will be needed (if any) academically as dyspraxics do vary greatly, but having the right diagnosis is always a great start!

Thanks that's really helpful. It's just worrying because its all unknown jut now and I feel incredibly guilty!

Guilty? Why???

You're very welcome - and try not to worry, it's one of those things which can be hard to diagnose early on BUT can be managed pretty successfully. The dyspraxic children I've met so far have done really well!

I would definitely say see if you can talk to some support groups too - be useful to get tips from other parents on how they've helped their children too, plus just a bit of emotional support for you as well. Like you say it's all unknown to you at the moment, but you'll be an confident expert before you know it!

Thanks.

Oh guilty because, you know, I'm a mother . I had a lot of stress when I was pregnant with him and I worry that's the cause of it. Worried he doesn't get enough one on one time at home or that I haven't done enough to progress his motor skills etc,

Hello Bee. Just checking in to say hi. My daughter now 9 has dyspraxia, she was diagnosed when she was 5. She was looked after by our local child services team (London). The OT was brilliant and now she has been discharged although they will take her back if needs be. Anyway just wanted to say if you have any questions do let me know and I will do my best to answer. In my opinion the difficult bit is done and that is getting on the road to diagnoses as you can now move forward and help your son in fulfilling all his marvellous potential. And please don't feel guilty (easier said than done i know). Use your energy on the here and now.

You sound like a lovely mum and you're obviously doing everything you can for him in what's naturally an upsetting time. Nobody really knows for sure what causes dyspraxia - but I think they're looking far more into physical causes rather than time/attention etc. It may well be genetic like dyslexia is thought to be as well - I don't think there is anything you could have done differently. Just think of how many mums are stressed in pregnancy (me for one!) and how many have to put their kids in nursery due to work/financial commitments and don't get to spend much time with them - if that caused dyspraxia a LOT more kids would have it!

And it is really hard to spot too - they reckon a large percentage of dyspraxics go undiagnosed entirely, but he's been spotted comparatively early so they should be able to build in strategies to really help him.

Speak to your OT about any worries you have too - they should be able to reassure you. Also here is a list of local support groups if talking to someone might help as well: www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/info/local.php

Or, you could start a chat thread on here? I think there's more traffic on there so you might be able to find someone else who's been through it too and can empathise.

Have my fingers crossed for you and of course your son too

My DD has/had severe dyspraxia
(I have it mildly, as does one of my sons)
My DD is now 17, coming 18.
She was diagnosed around 6-7.
We have been through OT's
We have been through tutoring with writing and spelling ( also has some dyslexia) she has other issues including joint instability which is common in people with dyspraxia, this can cause lots of pain.
She has had extra time in her exams,
And was able to use a laptop due to totally unreadable handwriting.
She passed all 12 GCS's with good grades, A levels are coming up.

Dd has had so many issues over the years, most of which we/she has overcome. Please feel free to pm me for more info, have been with this a long time, so do know what I'm talking about.
Best of luck, I'm sure everything will be ok.

Thanks all I appreciate it.

I have dyspraxia, think my mum was quite lucky in getting diagnosis back then!

I'm lucky in that mine is mild, so it doesn't affect me much. I can't catch to save my life, but can't say that is much of a problem!! I can't ride bike very well, and it's taking me forever to learn to drive, but i'm almost there now.

I'm quite disorganised as well, but as with most things I can overcome this with a bit of work.

Hi, reading with interest. DS is 8 and we have a doctors appointment soon to discuss his 'coordination difficulties' and hopefully get a referral to PT and OT.

How do I discuss all my concerns with the GP with DS present so that his confidence isn't crushed? Any tips? I'm working on a script to tell DS before we get there...

I know exactly what you mean re: guilt. All those things that children 'should' be able to do... Shoe laces, cutting with scissors, getting their own breakfast, getting dressed... you can't help but feel judged when other parents find out your DC still needs help.

It is however, who our DCs are. And certainly DS is wonderful . (Although it would be nice if half his dinner wasn't on the floor!)

Me and Dd(9) have dyspraxia, guilt is definately a problem as I know she inherited it from me. Dd hasn't got a statement but she does get lots of help, although she also has learning delay. I don't know if other people have social problems along with it, both me and Dd show slight autistic tendency's e.g. difficulty making friends, joining in games, knowing when to stop talking, focusing in on individual topics and not understanding that other people don't find them as interesting as we do. Obviously over time i have learnt some of what 'normal' behaviour is but i still struggle. Dd has no friends at school (do get a slightly different picture from Dd and the teachers though?) and does tend to get picked on. the school is very good though and always listen and try to resolve any problems we have.
Dd is still a very happy, caring child who everyone says is very special.

Cakesaregood since he is 8, I'd be tempted to be really up front with him and say to DS before you go that you are wondering if he might have a thing called dyspraxia. Explain very simply what it is, and that it is not a "fault" thing, but just that people's brains don't all work the same and you're hoping to be able to give him the right sort of help and that's why seeing GP. Give him a lot of reassurance and praise too. Then with GP, give a brief list of things he IS good at as well as your areas of concern. This will help both the GP and your son. Focus on how to help/moving forwards. Hope that helps!

Shanna a friend of mine has visual impairment which her son then had too, and she described the same guilt. But again it's not a fault thing, it is genetic - you cannot control this. And yes very common for some autistic aspects to overlap - sensory processing, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia all can. So glad to hear your school is helping! And DD sounds lovely

I agree with Shanna about the overlap. Those who have verbal dyspraxia can also have dyslexia, it is not "uncommon", out of 8 of my ds friends with verbal dyspraxia, 7 also had dyslexia. All you can do is watch for it and I think being aware is good, and finding techniques for all the things they struggle with. I remember my ds found his own technique for dressing. He would lay out his clothes on the floor every night in the order in which he liked to get dressed. Where he got the idea from I don't know, he was about 6 at the time. It looked funny (like a little man on the floor) but it worked and then one day he just stopped doing it as he had got the hang of it. I remember buying plastic tumblers that were dumpy as they were less likely to be knocked over at the table and having to make sure patterns/colours were facing him. Someone once said to me their learning is peak and plateau. What they meant was you go over and over and over what they need to do and one day they can do it (the peak, hurrah!) and then you're onto the next thing, and the plateau starts again. Over and over and over whatever it is they are trying to learn. However, thinking of it like this gave me the help and support I needed to know that all the waiting is worthwhile as they can and do learn. ds is now 19 and is fairly independent and capable and most of all happy. Good luck.

My DS is almost 7 and is waiting for the final part of his assessment. He also struggles with all the tasks on the first part of your list. What made a difference for us was acknowledging to ourselves and to him that he would have to work extra hard in these areas. I think I had been kidding myself since he was a toddler that his drawing would get better etc while having a sick feeling that all was not as it should be. The school and OT have been great but I did have to put pressure on Health to have him seen within a reasonable timescale. We are in Scotland too and it is the Child Health team at the local hospital that we deal with. DS is a cocky, mouthy, funny kid who just happens to have to try really hard with some things. I feel very lucky that his deficits are not more significant and if he doesn't become a professional footballer I can live with it.
Please don't feel that you are in any way responsible, some kids brains just don't learn stuff in the same that others do.
Good luck

Hi i would like to ask for some info on dyspraxia and phonological problems. My son is 4yrs 8m and can not form his words right he miss off the starts of words and gets them twisted. People who are round him a lot have worked out ways to understand him but new people he meets can not understand a word he is saying. He has being having help with his speech for about a yr with a little bit of improvement with sounds but still cant work out what letters need to go on the front of what words no matter how hard he trys. The speech therapist seem to think he has dyspraxia but the only symptoms he has is the speaking she has not made it her diagnosis yet and doesnt seem 100% sure. He also cover his ears when the radio is on says its to loud and has strops over very silly things and gets very upset, but its hard to tell if this is dyspraxia or just his age! I dont no were to start to see if we can get him diagnosed with it/or not with it so we can move on. He is very bright and with everything else the school say is working at 5yr old level. But his talking is at 3yrs level. The school are doing a statement for him at the moment. Can anyone tell me if they have had anything like this with there kids and what the turn out was. If your child is older now how have they developed. I feel like im getting no were and dont no how to help him and im so worried about him getting bullied as this yr he will be starting infants. Thanks for reading this sorry i have gone on for ever x

I want to bump this I'd really like to talk to other parents. My DS is nearly 5 and was diagnosed about 6 months ago .