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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Suppor thread for those with children with developmental coordination disorder

93 replies

mutantninja · 27/04/2017 16:34

I thought I'd start one as I can't find one that's already set up and wondered if there were others who would like to share. My son had an assessment recently and the conclusion was that he had DCD, not a formal diagnosis but that will follow. His school have been very supportive and he's begun a block of OT sessions privately. It's all still very new and quite daunting. He was premature, so has always been behind but I suppose I hoped that over time he would catch up. He's six and in year one, so hopefully it helps that we've started on it early. The biggest issue is his handwriting but also reading is tough for him.

OP posts:

user1571563444 · 30/08/2017 08:19

Hello, I was wondering if I could post for advice on this thread. My DS was diagnosed as pre-dyspraxic and hypermobile about 3.5 years ago when he was 3. He then had physio and OT for 18 months and we saw a great improvement, and the last two years he's been doing well in school (other than sport where he really struggles.)

We had the diagnosis at age 3 privately and I've not pursued anything since then because the physio and OT seemed to be effective and he was having no problems at school.

However my question is about mood and self-regulation - I've heard these can be affected by dyspraxia. I've got another post on this board at the moment about my son's extreme moods and explosive outbursts - it's obvious that his self-regulation system is out of kilter and I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this with DCD/dyspraxic children? I'm wondering if I should try to pursue a further diagnosis so that we could help him. I don't know what to do to help with these moods/anger.

BoogleMcGroogle · 30/08/2017 14:41

We experience difficulties with mood regulation too. To be honest ( I'm a professional psychologist so do have some experience of this), developmental diagnoses are pretty inexact and overlapping. DS has dcd and verbal dyspraxia but we see lots of traits that would be more commonly associated with other developmental conditions,especially mood regulation and sensory issues. He also has issues with most aspects of what I would describe as executive function (attention, sequential reasoning etc.) I'm not sure if another diagnosis would help but we have found using strategies from The Explosive Child book and Zones of Regulation really help. Our OT helped us to use Zones of Regulation and it has helped DS robe more aware of his state and to understand what he can do to help himself. It's also helped our approach to helping him.

user1571563444 · 30/08/2017 20:19

Thanks so much Boogle - the Zones of Regulation sounds v interesting. Is it the Leah Kuypers book that's available on amazon that's the one to get? I hadn't thought of asking an OT to help with self-regulation - I might start looking into that. We have just moved area so would need to find a new one locally. Do you think all OTs know about that sort of thing?

I'm about half way through the Explosive Child book - need to start putting some of it into practice. Have just been postponing everything till school starts tomorrow!!

Dannygirl · 31/08/2017 20:57

I think an OT trained in sensory would be able to help with mood regulation, it's definitely helped my son and it's specifically one of our OT treatment goals

abc12345 · 01/09/2017 21:37

We have a great ot that is sensory trained that has helped.

Also retained reflex therapy helped my son

abc12345 · 18/10/2017 12:13

Hello, I just wanted to share something with you guys... I took ds for an appointment at an optometrists (to check out his tracking/ binocular stability etc) and found out that he has been seeing double his whole life! No wonder the poor boy finds reading so difficult!!

He has had eye tests before and this has never been mentioned or picked up.

I thought you might like to know. Xx

Original poster

mutantninja · 18/10/2017 16:57

thanks abc how impossible for your DS if that's the case. It's good to find out so you can help him. What are the next steps with that? We've also been told to see a behavioural optometrist, so I am looking into that.

Our NHS assessment has finally come through so I thought I'd see how that goes first (and what I can get free). We've also had an eye test, which was fine but the tracking is definitely a theme we're seeing again and again.

OP posts:

Shybutnotretiring · 19/10/2017 00:36

My DS was also diagnosed with double vision and given blue lensed glasses to correct it. The big problem - he won't wear them!

abc12345 · 19/10/2017 13:38

He’s been given glasses that have already made a lot of difference and exercises for convergence and crossing the midline (which I knew he had problems with but didn’t realise his eyes did too!!)

We go back in 4 months. I think the idea is they lower the prescription each time so his eyes learn to do it themselves. And hopefully at some point he will learn to cross the midline.

After a lot of googling there seems to be a big correlation between dyspraxia and convergence/tracking. I even saw one research paper that suggested these tests should be standard with a child with dyslexia or dyspraxia... it’s never been mentioned to me before!!

abc12345 · 19/10/2017 13:40

Shy- is it the colour or the glasses in general he doesn’t like? The glasses we’ve got are not coloured but correct the convergence

Shybutnotretiring · 19/10/2017 13:55

that's interesting. I think his main objection is that he doesn't want to see everything blue (which is a fair point). dare I ask - where did you go to get the clear glasses?

abc12345 · 19/10/2017 18:29

Alexander Krobrin in potters bar.

He was tested for colour and was fine with that, maybe they would’ve suggested coloured glasses if that wasn’t the case. But the glasses he has sort out the convergence/focus and therefore tracking should improve.
Maybe he could have clear glasses and just use a blue overlay for reading?

Violet44 · 19/10/2017 22:37

abc did you have to pay for optometrist? Where did you go? Both my boys need to see one, eldest has eye tracking difficulties and is missing out words a lot in his reading and getting words muddled,youngest has visual issues which mean he really struggles with reading writing anything.I tried to get to see one on NHS but not possible, I think so need to go private.

abc12345 · 20/10/2017 07:25

Yes and it is expensive.
I’m yet to have any NHS help with anything.
I went to Alexander Krobrin in potters bar. I would reccomend them

Shybutnotretiring · 20/10/2017 08:03

Thanks - I've heard of him, can't be a coincidence if the recommendations are stacking up!

Violet44 · 20/10/2017 10:31

Thanks going to look that up.

abc12345 · 20/10/2017 14:17

They were really good and v nice to him.

It was a “visual ability assessment”

You have to book quite far in the future though unfortunately

bigglesgoggles · 24/10/2017 20:05

Bit late to the party but so pleased to have stumbled across this thread!
My dd is 9yrs - diagnosed dyspraxia at 4yrs, ADHD at 7yrs, and ASD at 8yrs.

Just going to start reading through to catch up!
xxx

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