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Can a child be 'mildly' dyspraxic?

26 replies

Hangingbellyofbabylon · 28/10/2010 22:18

dd1 is 6.2. Concerns are poor concentration, unable to sit still, very clumsy (covered in bruises), can't skip using a rope, can't ride a bike or swim. Poor hand-writing but very good at reading. Can't open a crisp packet, use knife and fork, do zips, buttons, put on socks, take off tops, do car seatbelt.

She is getting increasingly upset and dreads P.E as changing is so hard. I am getting frustrated by having a 6 year old who struggles to get dressed.

I talked to the school last year and they let her provisionally join the 'Move to learn' programme. I mentioned it again at parent's evening last week and was told that is no longer involved in 'move to learn' as they assessed her and she can hop and throw a ball Hmm.

I don't know what to do. DD is unhappy and finding life really hard but my dd2 is disabled, (she has cerebral palsy) and I feel like people will think I'm trying to find something wrong with dd1 too. I feel like there is so much focus on dd2 that dd1's problems get missed.

Could dd be mildly dyspraxic even though she can hop (which seems to be the pre-requitsive for any further help)

OP posts:
skihappy · 31/10/2010 21:08

My ds aged 6 years was diagnosed with dyspraxia this year. The diagnosis came from a paediatrician after assessment by an OT. The referral to OT was made by the school just before his fifth birthday, following concerns about his concentration, constant fidgeting, inability to sit still and poor fine motor skills. Dyspraxia was not a condition that I'd previously considered as ds is pretty competent at climbing, is very active and has been pedalling a bike since he was 18 months old. He could hop and catch a ball. However the OT identified that he has very flexible limbs, coupled with poor core body strength. I was amazed to learn that, when tested, he couldn't stand on one leg for any length of time. Observing the assessment, it also became clear that, a lot of my son's refusal to comply with instructions comes out of fear of failure rather than the refusal out of sheer stubborness that I saw.
With exercises and additional support my ds has progressed quite dramatically in handwriting and sitting still. He struggles to organise himself, get started on tasks and complete activities. We are constantly seeking techniques and tools to assist in these difficulties. He is also a vvery "clumsy" child, and often comes home from PE with clothes inside out and / or back to front.

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