Dyspraxia, when is it diagnosed?

[Tiredmummyneedswineandsleep]

Someone very close to me has a two year old DS. His movement is significantly delayed to peers, he is very clumsy, his co'ordination isnt great and he has delayed speech.
A social worker has suggested he may be dyspraxic. I thought so myself but it's not my place to say. I've worked with children for many years and have been worried about his development.
His parents feel there is nothing wrong, he's just a typical boy but obviously are worried.
He has regular physio, speech therapy and has now been refered to a paediatrician.
My heart goes out to his father who is my DP. My own DS has ASD and I know it's hard to accept there is something wrong with your own DC.
I've not heard of dyspraxia being diagnosed to at least five or six. That is with the children I've worked with.
He is a lovely child but his walking issues are quite severe and he cannot run, climb, jump, go upstairs etc..l he falls over really frequently and walks without bending his knees. I want to support his father and his DS as much as I can.
They have a paediatrician apt soon. Can anybody who has knowledge of dyspraxia advise on the diagnosis process please?

Many thanks

Watching with interest, my ds is similar. He is 3 years old, labelled global development delay- private OT definite he has DCD, but cannot diagnose. I have done my own little research and if I understand it correctly, there is no clear diagnostic pathway for dyspraxia/ dcd... It seems to me not many professionals know that much about it and there is also not many charities etc as in case of ASD or for example dyslexia. I have read that for the diagnoses the IQ must be within normal rage in order to diagnose dyspraxia - maybe that is why very young children don't get the diagnoses. I'm not sure if, for example my son's delays could be caused by dyspraxia entirely or if it is just a add on... If you know what I mean. Sorry not been very helpful, have I? I'm debating with myself whether to pursue the diagnoses on Nhs...

Watching with interest, my ds is similar. He is 3 years old, labelled global development delay- private OT definite he has DCD, but cannot diagnose. I have done my own little research and if I understand it correctly, there is no clear diagnostic pathway for dyspraxia/ dcd... It seems to me not many professionals know that much about it and there is also not many charities etc as in case of ASD or for example dyslexia. I have read that for the diagnoses the IQ must be within normal rage in order to diagnose dyspraxia - maybe that is why very young children don't get the diagnoses. I'm not sure if, for example my son's delays could be caused by dyspraxia entirely or if it is just a add on... If you know what I mean. Sorry not been very helpful, have I? I'm debating with myself whether to pursue the diagnoses on Nhs...

Sory for the double insert - silly phone..

From what I understand, if there are these type of concerns in a child under 2, it is unlikely to be classed as dyspraxia at that age. If the gross motor skills are that severe, it is likely that a paediatrician would be looking at a different dx.
DCD, as opposed to Dyspraxia, has a medical definition, which includes significant disparity between developmental physical skills and academic skills. This would be very hard to ascertain in a 2 year old.
A paediatrician would also look to rule out any other dx - particularly neurological - before confirmation. We all know how long that process takes
DS1 got his dx about 4 years, possibly 3 half (long time now, trying to work out when based on whether he had started reception or not) I have been told this is early. DS3 is on the very long waiting list to be assessed for this also. He is currently 5 - likely to be 6 before assessment.
Most general or community paeds will get a report from an OT before any confirmation of dx.

Auntevil and what would you do if NHS OT after 1 year of observation did not spot/ mention DCD, but two private OT's are positive? Is it possible to demand a referral from paedetrician to a 'higher' place than our local useless team at the Children's center? Sorry for the hijack.

It is perfectly acceptable to ask for a second opinion.
What tests has the NHS OT done. Are there any tests that both private and NHS have done that you can show the paediatrician and ask why there is such a difference of opinion.
You can also ask to change paediatricians too (1 of my favourite's )
I have just had a paediatrician say a dx (something other than dyspraxia) was unlikely, probably impossible, asked GP to refer to another department, and was told the dx was blatantly obvious - all NHS.
A lot depends on who you see.
If you know there is something, you have to be like a dog with a bone sometimes.

Thanks, yes I'm still transforming into the dog :) paedetrician is actually decent, NHS OT did just observations... I think I will just send the pead. all the assesments and point out the differences...NHS OT's report are a total farce actually, hopefully he will agree.

The paed will probably be reluctant to do a dx without the OT report.
Has your paediatrician seen the independent reports at all? Definitely worth showing and asking innocently how they can differ so much.
If nothing else, it might stir the paed into organising a proper assessment rather than 'observations'
Good luck!

Thanks Auntevil, I meant I will send it all to him ( they are recent) and ask for referral to a different OT.