Dsypraxia.......what now ?

[heavenis]

I've just got back from seeing the Ed psyc. She says that ds1 has some dsypraxic tendencies. She will write a report which I'll get in about three weeks cos she has a back log of writing to do.
She said that they don't fund children with dsypraxia and he'll get the help the school can afford to give him. She also said that he is not a clear cut case.
I just wondered of other peoples experiences. I maybe wrong but did she only see him in case the school could get extra money.
He's 6 and in year 2.
Any advice gratfully received.

I think having the sloping board puts them in a better position to write. I know exactly what you mean about the friendship issues. DD says something similar to me. I have to try to cut off from it to some extent as I don't really care how she does academically at the end of the day, I would much rather that she could make and keep good friends. However I think that there is a tendency for them to say they don't play with others when they have in fact done so. The SENCO is monitoring DD at the moment about this. I've found it's very helpful to invite children home after school regularly to play.

HI heavenies. The writing slope raises the paper which is better for children with dyspraxia. My dughter used to use one at school and it helped her to write moer neatly.

Changed my name in case DD ever finds this. I have just written a list of DD's current issues as I am thinking about applying for DLA and wanted to discuss this at her appointment later. Thought you might find it of some use to see the issues that we've got going on. She is 7, year 2.

Personal Care
• Needs help washing, hair washing & drying herself.
• Unable to brush own hair
• Hair brushing difficult as has very sensitive scalp
• When dressing battle ensues over getting collar out from under jumper as it tickles her.
• Clothes have to be clearly laid out eg. When I told her to put her summer dress on she did and then put polo shirt from winter uniform over the top. Still goes on back to front and the shoes the wrong way if not watched.
• All shoes have to be Velcro and coats need to have an alternative method of fastening to a zip ie. Velcro or toggles.
• Unable to blow nose and struggles to remember to wipe it

Eating
• Struggles with knife and fork
• Eating with fingers is very messy – 2 year old brother often ends up in less mess
• Has to be helped to sit in an appropriate position in the chair
• Plate often has to be placed in front of her as left to own devices she will reach over the table a substantial distance rather than putting plate in front of her.
• Packed lunch for school needs to be planned with care so that no hard to open items are included.
• Cup is balanced at the edge of the table and can’t see that it is likely to fall.

Out & About

• Is generally unable to strap herself into a car seat.
• When walking down the road has to be told to move over so that people can pass or else they have to walk around her.
• Has to be watched as is likely to walk into lamp posts – SENCO was watching her walk down the corridor after a session and she walked into the wall.
• If out with the buggy she has to be constantly reminded to move over or else she will fall over the buggy wheels.

Social Issues
• Seems to be able to start friendships but finds them difficult to maintain.
• If teased by one of her peers she is unable to let it go and talks about it at home over and over again.
• Has inappropriate actions at times eg. Puts her hands up to be claws and screws up her face and hisses, pretending to be a cat. This results in teasing from her peers.
• Is currently getting invitations for play dates but only to those people that I am friends with their mothers. If I stop inviting them for a few weeks invitations dry up.
• Feels that she is “the odd one out” and at times feels isolated.
• Displays inappropriate behaviour with strangers eg is over friendly in shops to assistants.
• Prefers the company of younger children to her peer group.

Physical issues
• Unable to ride bike.
• Needs more help when out and about eg were out with friend’s children (6&8) neither of whom needed help getting off boat on boat trip. DD required assistance.
• Unable to skip with rope and participate with such games in playground.

Speech
• Often gabbles and “swallows” words
• Struggles with “th” sound
• Grammar can be incorrect
• Adopts a childish manner in her speech at times
• Finds it difficult to regulate the loudness of her voice
• Finds it hard to recognise the non verbal cues in a conversation and will speak at inappropriate moments.

Sensory Issues
• See hair brushing & in personal care
• Unable to tolerate wearing certain fabrics
• Unable to tolerate loud noises eg can not go to school disco, party ended in tears as the children were too loud and gave her a headache, unable to go to fireworks.

General
• Can get very stressed by minor incidents and unable to put them out of her mind.
• If is unsure of something will need constant reassurance over and over again
• Has to be constantly reminded to do something – out of sight, out of mind.
• New places and things can be very stressful to her.
• Difficulties with establishing the time of day eg. Gets confused about meal it is that is happening.

• Is having difficulty getting to sleep and has a tendency to nightmares
• Tires very easily when out and about.

I do wonder sometimes if ds says he hasn't played with anyone because he can't remember.
It's just the waiting for the report that is difficult. I'm going to make a list of things that people have suggested on here, like going to the gp,the writing slope.

Your list sounds very similar to mine OfftoPaed at the same age. It is only very recently that DD (now 9.5 yrs) has started being able to get dressed herself (odd things she still has problems with). We still have to cut up a lot of her food but "caring cutlery" available from Disabled Aids places has helped tremendously. Started doing up seat belt about a year ago. It does come, it just takes such a long time .. I don't ever hold out hope on the bike riding front tho'!

Hi Offtopaed.
I've looked through your list and there are things on there that are like ds. Although he can do his own seat belt,and use a knife and fork.
Most of the things you said about speech is like him.Needs constant reminding about things.
He can ride a bike with stabilisers.Much preferes his go-kart.
Does get stressed in new situations and needs to be reasured all the time.
Going into toilets can be a nightmare. Hand driers frighten him.