ds seems to have a left side weakness - any ideas what this could mean?

[QueenEagle]

ds3 has been referred to a physio to check out the reasons for his poor co-ordination. Playgroup have noticed he avoids physical activities. We have been aware for a long long time that he has a strange gait and awkward running technique. His left foot turns outwards slightly more than the other, he falls over his own feet quite a bit too.

He has not decided whether he is left or right handed yet. He hates getting dressed and undressed and needs lots of adult help still. He gets up from sitting on the floor like a baby still and cannot hop. Goes up the stairs in a babyish fashion too.

Anyone got any ideas what the problem might be? I think dyspraxia.

Sorry to post this again - I am hoping putting it in sn will get more responses.....

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Where is everyone?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated

Hi Fio He is 3y 10m.

He is actually quite strong and if you didn't know him well, you wouldn't notice it.

Just lately though it has been more noticeable that he falls over when we are out walking and and he is just a bit awkward and stiff. Riding trikes etc and scooters is harder for him too.

Today playgroup did a sponsored bounce - all the kids managed 20 or more but ds3 fell over on 14. p/g said it was his left leg again that gave way.

This is ds with the many traits of autism but it isn't that. But there is something. I am almost certain it could be dyspraxia.

It does sound quite like it could be dyspraxia and you can get autistic type behaviours with dyspraxia. Is his eating messy? What are his fine motor skills like e.g. writing and drawing? It doesn't sound too severe if it is - if he is able to ride trikes and things although it is more of a struggle,he's doing pretty well.

You can also get co-ordination and motor problems with Aspergers - I only mention because you say your Ds has a lot of autistic type traits.

He can't hop.
Can't dress or undress without lots of help.
Pencil grip is sometimes upside down - drawings are unidentifiable, unless he says that's an eye etc and you can just make out a vague face shape.
He dribbles a lot. Gets lots of food round his mouth when eating. Although hold knife and fork well, manipulating them to cut things is almost impossible.
He walks on tiptoes a lot - has done ever since he started to walk.
His toileting is very hit and miss. Still soils a lot in his pants.

Do you think it's possible that he has mild cerebral palsy, maybe?

tamum - never thought of that.

Also remember too that this is ds who has selective mutism, very disordered and unintelligible speech. Stammers lots too from time to time.

Hates physical affection, loud noises, likes some things to be the same ie blue plate at lunch, blue straw for drinks, blue star as reward for weeing on toilet. Lines his cars up and sorts them into colours. Cannot talk about the future or comprehend what tomorrow or next week means but know what he did last week and has a fantastic memory.

But sometimes he will say I love you mummy, daddy, db, ds etc etc, but says this over and over til you are fed up of hearing it (I'm not but yswim!).

We are waiting for appointments with a physio, paed and ed psych so i know these things will be sorted in due course, but I'd just like to know if anyone else has experienced similar and we can start doing things that will help him.

Queen eagle he sounds a bit like my DD.

She has hemiplegia in her left side which is a form of cerebral palsy, like your son she is unsteady on her legs and falls a lot, also she hates getting dressed and undressed, she is also showing a lot of autistic traits and has just finished an asessment at the CDC.

BUT it could well be dyspraxia as the others have mentioned.

HTH

QE the speech issues could be verbal dypraxia as an extension of the physical dyspraxia. Is he hypermobile in his joints or stiff?

The speech thing sounds quite a lot like my Ds2. He has a lot of dyspraxic and sensory integration type symptons and has loads of motor difficulties - he can't jump at the age of 5. Because of low muscle tone and co-ordination difficulties his speech is also very unclear and we have been told he has a speech sound disorder. In addition he has language and communication difficulties and some autistic like traits. We have no diagnosis just get told that he ticks some boxes from autism, dyspraxia, sensory integration disorder, PDD whatever but not enough or clearly enough to be diagnosed as any particular one. His difficulties are spread evenly though not more pronounced on one side so it is possible the cause of your Ds's problems is different.

hi queeneagle, your ds3 sounds a lot like my dd1, she has hemiplegia, a form of mild cerebral palsy, and that includes physical and behavourial issues. not sure if i can mention other sites, this is my 1st post, however, have a look on www.hemihelp.org.uk, they've got some really good information etc. all the best with all the assessments etc. remember, one day all the 'not knowing' will be behind you, so stay strong.