Dyspraxia concerns -

[Tobermory]

I wonder if anyone can help.

Have had concerns about DD1 for a year or so. After speaking with school she joined an early morning movement group which she really enjoys. Had a chat with the teacher last week who thinks a referral to an OT would be wise.

Reading lists about possibly behaviours has me doing lots of ticking.

She gets super excited- not sure about 'flapping' as have never seen it-but she is certainly much more physically animated, bouncing about when excited or happy
Clumsy, falls over a lot.
Knocks things over
Struggles with balancing on one leg or hopping
Messy eater
Reading fab, writing she finds harder, esp handwriting.
Less confident in maths
Swimming fab underwater, by comparison struggles on her front
Struggles to follow instructions
Forgetful
Just got rid of stabilisers on her bike-she's 7 (almost)
Struggles with friendships and her behaviour with friends
Finds it hard to go to sleep
Very anxious (at the moment that's my biggest concern) she's not liking herself very much right now, was up for hours tonight, very self critical and aware (magnifying) her own mistakes/weaknesses.

I'm no OT but based on what I've read she is somewhere on the dyspraxia spectrum. If so that's fine, I just want to know how best to help her. But I am so very worried about her anxiety, her negative feelings about herself and more than a bit concerned about how to help her with this. Would really appreciate any advice.

ask for a referral to an OT or a developmental paed. I had concerns my daughter had dyspraxia - she saw an OT privately and although not dyslexia they did identify other difficulties that she has which to someone who didn't know would think it would be dyspraxia, she now has a NHS OT appointment but not to the end of June

I second the advice to get an OT assessment.
While you are waiting to see them, work on core strength and the anxiety.

Breathe, Think Do app which reinforces the Stop, Think/Plan, Do strategy that OT would do with her.
Also there are lots of meditation (Mindfulness) programmes for children which have been shown to impact on executive skills, and anxiety. Smiling minds is a good one.

Yep. OT needed. DS has all of these (except struggling to sleep) and he's on the bottom 1% in some dyspraxia markers.

FWIW other things on the DS checklist include:

• hypersensitive to pain (embarassing for a rugger player built like the proverbial outhouse). A dyspraxic friend is the opposite (broke an arm and had it reset without even wincing)
• instatiable appetite
• fidgeting at desk (but not when hunched over minecraft - go figure)
• need for physical stimulation pretty much at all times (apparantly if he squeezes a ball or fidgets on a chair he can then 'close down' his touch stimulae and concentrate on other stuff)

A very quick test is to check their right/left 'dominance' - give them a rolled up piece of paper to look through and check which eye they put it to, throw them a ball and see what hand they catch with, kick them a ball and check what foot they kick back with. In NT children it will usually all be on one side or the other but you get a criss-cross with dyspraxics.

theres a book called 'the out of synch child' thats useful. We also use a bit of sensory diet stuff. But explaining it to them has probably helped most - and really helped with self-esteem (and we found it invaluable in ensuring that school reports did not criticise our children for stuff they had no control over).

There's another good book written by a dyspraxic teenager called caged in chaos that would be worth getting if there is a DX.

Thankyou so much for the replies and recommendations for things for us to be getting on while we wait. It's all very helpful, will look now at the app and the book recommendations.

Mediation programmes- redoubtable, are they programmes online or 'real life'. Would it be appropriate for a 6 year old?

Bjkmummy, an OT privately, I'd not thought of that. Might look into it in case our wait is a long one.

The Breathe,Think,Do one has the same breathing idea that mindfulness uses.
Smiling mind programme is designed for 6 years on

Annaka Harris for children from 6
Definitely appropriate IME

My son is also showing signs of Dyspraxia. At home and at school we are concerned about him. He had an Ed Pysch appointment last week and she asked if DS had been seen by an OT. He hasn't and the waiting list here is around a year!
I have booked a private assessment for him, a 3 week v 12 month wait is worth the £400 it will cost for assessment and report.

Orange pudding, wow, a year? Long wait. I was under the impression that I had to go through the Dr, who were immensely unhelpful and demanded that I bring DD into the surgery for dr appointment. I seriously didn't want her sitting there listening while I share my concerns!! Someone gave me some info today, I called and have referred her myself. Let's see how long it takes to get a date! (Crossing fingers it's not a year!)

Have ordered 'sitting like a frog' a mindfulness book/ cd, hope it's good!

12 months does seem excessive. I am hoping once I have the private report I can take it to the GP and ask them to refer, doesn't look like I can self refer in my area. If the assessment shows DS has difficulties I will probably also ask for him to be refered to a developmental pead.

Fingers crossed your appointment arrives soon.

Resurrecting this thread, DD's appointment is tomorrow. Just jotting down my thoughts so I don't forget anything.