Dyspraxia and creative writing

[mrslaughan]

DS is year 3 and a young year 3.... Interms of maturity - also his birthday is in march. He has a diagnosis of fine motor dyspraxia and SPD (sensory seeking).
I have been playing close attention to his imaginative play, after someone on this board talked about there childs play being derivative. And in hindsight in the past DS's play has been derivative, but since he has started with oT - we have really started to see very creative play and lots and lots of ideas.
Anyway today DS teacher raised about DS lack if imagination in his writing - if asked to write a story he will re-tell a story he knows, either from TV or a book that relates to the subject.
tBH I was not surprised about this, with what we were told at his assessment, about how difficult writing is with the fine motor skill involved, sequencing etc.....and I know they actually talked about anything written will not show his true ability, because it is so hard for him.
But my question is - for those of you with experience of dyspraxia is that what you would expect? And how can we help him...
I had the idea as a family we can make up a story , each doing a line to the story (verbally)
While we are in the car etc..... Any other suggestions?

Swan, I used to work for Hounslow Health Authoity. When I first started there (20 odd years ago!), they didn't have any paediatric OTs at all and physios were covering some of their remit. They eventually took on one OT and this increased to three people at one point (not all full time). They just didn't have the resources to offer appointments to all those who needed it so had to only see the younger children.

I've not worked there for some years now but I know that other therapy departments have had to make cuts, so I imagine the same would be true of OT.

A friend has a 10yr old who is seen by an OT in Ealing, so they may have different criteria. What health authority do you live in?

I'm not sure why your GP needs a letter from the school and why the school would not write one for that matter.

As far as I know, an EP would not diagnose dyspraxia.

Whatever you decide about the touchtyping course, be prepared for the long haul! Ds did a 5day course with Amanda McLeod in early January this year. I would say that his touchtyping has only really clicked in the last month. The course is really for learning finger placement, the hard work comes afte that with regular practise. We were advised that ds should not try touchtyping for school work for quite awhile, although copy typing was fine it is just too much for the brain to deal with remembering where he keys are at te same time as planning what to write.

Daft We are in Ealing. And I know how long it takes to get through Ealing CAMHS because I've done it with Ds2 for ASD.
I just feel frustrated because his present school implied they would handle the whole dyspraxia referral in-house as it were, and now the LA liasion have told me it isn't possible due to lack of people to refer to, or assess, and that cut-off point was 10. It seems a bit ridiculous that the problem [of dyspraxia] is thought to be non-existent after 10. I suspect the school/LA are focused more on ASD than dyspraxia, and have more expertise in handling that.

The bottom line is that ds1 has coped alright in primary, but his issues with presentation, processing and communication are now holding him back at secondary. He is also getting into fights because he feels people are teasing him for all the things he can't do (especially sport). Things could be a lot better if he had some sort of "official" strategies to help him tackle the stuff he finds difficult.

The GP needs a letter from school as evidence of difficulties. As you say, that is what is I must chase up. Just frustrating it has taken a whole year almost to go back to the beginning again, when the difficulties are increasing.

I agree with your comment on everything focused on ASD.... That is not necessarily a bad thing, accept when there is no focus, lack of understanding of other learning difficulties .
I have just ordered a book - and it is the best book I have read on dyspraxia and DH really hopes he can persuade (which is unusual for him) all his teachers to read. It's called "making inclusion work for children with dyspraxia " by gill Dixon and Lois addy .... But the first part of the book is fantastic at understanding, dyspraxia and why children with dyspraxia behave and act certain ways , and why the struggle in certain situations.

Did they try to refer your ds to Hounslow or Ealing OT?

I would ask if school would refer him to their EP. If you want to go privately, I have the contact details for an EP based in W4 who assessed my ds this year - I don't think she has any dyspraxia specialism though but it was helpful to tease out which areas ds needed help with.

Daft Private EP name would be very helpful. Could you pm me with the details? They (Hounslow) haven't referred him to any OT, and won't be, as there is a cutoff of 10yrs and he is 12! I suspect Ealing will say the same. But sorting that out slowly today. Just had a meeting with school this morning over a social communication issue in ds1.

I will dig out her details and pm you.

Definitely phone Ealing OTs (they may be based at Mattock Lane?). Ask about their referral criteria, you may be able to self refer and so, avoid involving GP.

I can definitely recommend Carolyn Cardwell and her team. I used to work with her in Hounslow. She is lovely.

Swan, I should also have said that if you do see an EP, make sure they make recommendations for future exams in their report (although you may need an up to date one nearer the time). Ds gets extra time and is able to use a laptop but these need to be recommended in the EP report - I had to get this added as the EP had not put it in. Ds is doing 11+ in Jan.

Let us know how you get on..

Noticed you mentioned touch typing and Jane Verity in Isleworth. All the details are on www.verityping.co.uk or call Jane on 020 8568 4633 or e-mail [email protected]