Dyspraxia - What next?

[MerlinsBeard]

Very long story short, we had a letter thru with the outcome of DS2 latest consultant appointment. At the actual appointment no diagnosis was made but the laetter said that DS2 has Dyspraxia. The letter is a result of the whatever the outcome of the review was (I didn't go this time - DH did as i felt like they needed some fresh ears - its been a long fight!) as well as reports from OTs and school.

I am enormously relieved that there is a "thing" that can be dealt with but unsure what to do now. NOthing was detailed on the letter other than a few things. I am sending a copy of the letter into school on Monday with a cover letter but i am unsure what to do now!

Obviously we are keeping up the "exercises" set by the OT and he will have his special chairs to build u his core but is there something else i should be doing?

hi i ve recently recieved the same diagnosis for my twins, we ve known for 2 yrs now that dd5 had a servere lern diff, but were totally unaware there were any other issues,she was only assesed as a result of her twin being diagnosed after a long drawn out battle as well, so i know how it feels, it was such a relief to know there was a "thing"which could be helped,and my ds4 has made massive improvments in jus 3 mnths, although he has had intervention from ot etc, it was jus his school finally accepting that he wasnt jus naughty,and finally understanding what was going on has taken all the stress away for him,and its fab!!! ive got my happy smiley boy bk,and he s trying so hard now academically, if id said lets practise writing your name to him 3 mnths ago, the most huge tantrum would have errupted, he had a paddy last fri bcos he didnt have enough homework!!!! we only got dd5 diagnosis last fri so early days yet, but fingers crossed she ll show the sam improvment!! best of luck , i hope you have the same experience x

Thank you for your reply

We have had intervention from OTs too. He has a "breezi" chair at home and a similar one for school. Got some exercises to do with him, yoga type ones for developing his core and concentration ones.

hi.. our ot asked us to try a trip trap chair at mealtimes and the amount he ate doubled!
also we now know its pointless punishing him for some of the sensory seeking (eg chewing the buttons on his school shirt) and balance issues, like falling off his chair all the time.
our school are supportive, we also see an OT privately once a week. its not cheap but she gives us exercises to do and over the past three months i have honestly seen a lot of progress. im not sure if you might be able to do this too.
as you say, a relief that there is a reason for a lot of the eccentric behaviour, and it will help you to address the frustrations on both sides. i just felt like i was the worlds worst mum before.
good luck and x

Hi I'v seen your ad on Dyspraxia my daughter has this and was diagnoised in 2001, it is often confused with dyslexia. As a mother who's daughter is now a teenager and in secondary school if you wish any further information then please contact me.

How an Dyslexia and Dypraxia be confused?

And why would it be Dyslexia before he can even read or write?

DS1 is 7 an dis doing an OT 10 week course to improve his gross motor skills, following an OT assesment, it took about 14 months from teacher concern, to the docs, to a peadatrician, to see an OT.

He's only done one session and has 2 exercises a week to do at home. So only time will tell. His little brother who is 3 can do one of the exercises so much more easily than him, which shows to me there is something there that needs work on.

He fluctuates with it, from being balance and slick on the football field to being like Bambi on ice at home!

But saying that as he has got only he has got much better, but I can see the frustration he feels with it, so we keep on trying.

I think time is the thing you have to appreciate, no quick fix, or instant cure.

Thank you for your post these are very often confused in education through my experience as Dyspraxia has only been around for 20 or so years as my daughter would be one of the first it seems that the education sysytem does not have what it takes. Also london does not have a centre for their testing but there is one in wales. Any further info then feel free to contact me [email protected]

My son had neural brushing therapy for his dyspraxia - I was told he'd never ride or bike and would struggle at school.

He is now 18 and off to Uni - it was brilliant and helped him so much with his gross motor issues.

He's very dyslexic as is his brother and me, so it has been an uphill struggle but keep at it and good luck

this is the most comprehensive list of symptoms that i have come across

www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/ad_symptoms.php

Additionally this gives a good explanation of brain functioning for people with dyspraxia

www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/services/dys_brain.php

How old is your DS2, MerlinsBeard?

My DS has DCD/dyspraxia and I recently read a very good book called Caged in Chaos which is aimed at teenagers. However DS is 10 and it is still very relevant to him. There are lots of things in there that help with understanding how far reaching dyspraxia can be.

As for what other things you could do it is difficult to say as all children are different but does he have an sensory issues? My DS does better sitting at the sides of the room for example, so that he isn't dealing with activity all around him. He tends to sit at the edge of the table which leaves his left arm unhindered so he has room to write. Like a lot of dyspraxic children he can't copy off the board(something to do with integrating the two sides of his body which includes his eyes although there is nothing wrong with his eye sight as such) so his teacher makes sure that this is taken into consideration. Your DS will have little things that are specific to him and you will probably need to talk to the teacher to see what he or she has noticed.

Are the school helping with the OT? DS does his programme at school as they have more space and the resources - would your DS's school be prepared to do this? Or does he get extra help with handwriting or would he benefit from typing lessons? How about a writing board - dyspraxics often write better on a slope although my DS hated his. It really does depend on what particular problems your DS has.

Hope you get some help though.