Dyspraxia

[NatLea]

Hi. My 13 year old is on the waiting list for OT for possible dyspraxia but I’m certain he has it and have been for a long time now. Just curious to hear from other parents of teens with it and how it’s affecting them as they’re getting older. Thanks

@NoInvitesEver makes a really good point that they can learn to do most things with enough practice from using a knife and fork correctly to swimming. DC is a competent swimmer (made the school team) and is now studying at conservatoire to be a professional musician. They often do need to work harder at it though so important to find ways to keep them going when they are disillusioned when others (especially NT younger siblings) get there faster.

DS was diagnosed at 18 by an educational psychologist. We already knew he was dyslexic and he needed an up to date formal assessment to apply for DSA for university. They diagnosed dyspraxia as well as the dyslexia but we’d always suspected it.

He was slow to walk, to learn to ride a bike and a skateboard but once he’d mastered them he was fine. He couldn’t catch a ball but now plays basketball regularly. He really struggled with driving though and still hasn’t taken his test. His handwriting has always been awful but luckily that doesn’t matter so much these days.

He’s very musical and plays guitar really well and is very creative and imaginative. He did a degree in a creative subject, did really well and now works in the associated industry.

My DS2 was diagnosed with Dyspraxia in reception year.
He got so much help (personal laptop, 1:1 PE lessons etc) until he hit Secondary school, then it went wrong thanks to a hideously bad SENCO.
However, i paid for drumming lessons which helped with coordination, and he went to college at 16 to retake GCSEs and got help once again in coping mechanisms., and eventually learnt to ride a bike!
He did a diploma in IT, slowly working his way up through the grades.. but he never really compared himself to his older brother who gets things immediately.

Now, at 23 he drives and has a good job working for the county college, in the IT dept.
Hes pretty confident these days, i think what made him was travelling abroad by himself (it nearly killed me mind, but i had to let him go).. He also goes to the gym pretty regularly, which helps to maintain core strength and gets out any frustrations..
His time management and memory is still pretty bad, and it hit him so badly when his first relationship ended (he thought it was because he was stupid etc) but we got through it, and hes doing really well now!
Dyspraxic kids definitely have to work harder, but as long as they understand theres plenty of time, they can get there!

Ds14 is dyspraxic. He never has accidents as he is very cautious and always has been. Cant swim, ride a bike, play football etc but his dyspraxia is quite bad. He has slow processing but very clever and goes to sen school for bright kids who generally go onto uni.

He was diagnosed at 6. Lots and lots of OT for years now. Sensory processing disorder. Very slow at everything! Very popular and witty.