Does your child often fumble with his/her limbs? Is he/she incompetent at work? Let's talk about Dyspraxia!

Does your child often drop things? Does he often bump into something or fall down while walking? Perhaps the school teacher has said, "Your child is very lazy and lazy to write." Or perhaps his friends have made fun of him by calling him "the nerd." How sad can a mother or father feel when faced with something like this? But the reason for all this may not be your child's laziness or clumsiness. The condition we are talking about today, called Dyspraxia, could be the cause.

What exactly is Dyspraxia?

Simply put, dyspraxia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the functioning of the nervous system and brain. What happens in this is that there is a small coordination problem in the way the brain sends messages to the body's limbs. Imagine, when you want to catch a ball, your eyes look at where the ball is coming, and the brain takes that information and tells your hands, "Okay, now get ready to catch the ball." A person with dyspraxia has trouble communicating this message properly. As a result, they have difficulty planning and coordinating their movements.

The official name doctors use for this is Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) . In the past, children with this condition were called "Clumsy Child Syndrome," but we now know that this is an incorrect and unfair term for the child. It is actually a medical condition.

Adults can also have dyspraxia . Some people only discover they have the condition when they are older. The symptoms may have been present in childhood and gone unnoticed at the time. However, sometimes symptoms of dyspraxia can appear in adulthood as a result of a stroke or other brain injury.

What is the reason for this? Who is more likely to develop it?

The exact cause of dyspraxia is not yet known, but researchers believe there are a few things that contribute to it:

• Genetic influence: If someone in the family has this condition, there is a higher chance that a child will also have it.
• Premature birth : Babies born before 37 weeks are at higher risk. The risk is especially high if they are born before 32 weeks.
• Low birth weight: Babies weighing less than 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds) at birth are at higher risk.
• Delays in nervous system development: It is believed that some children's nervous systems may be delayed in fully maturing.

What are the symptoms that can be seen depending on age?

Symptoms of dyspraxia can vary from person to person. Some people have fewer symptoms, some have more. Let's take a look at how these symptoms appear according to age groups.

Writing and dyspraxia

Writing is more complicated than we think. You have to translate what you have in your mind into words, remember the letters that correspond to those words, and then write the shape of those letters correctly with your hand. This requires a lot of coordination between your brain and your hand. Because children with dyspraxia have difficulty with this coordination, their handwriting can be very unclear and messy. They also write very slowly.

How is this condition diagnosed?

There is no specific blood test or scan to diagnose dyspraxia. It is usually only clearly identified once a child starts school, because that is when the differences from other children become more apparent.

If you have any doubts about this, you can have your child examined by a pediatrician , pediatric neurologist , occupational therapist , or physical therapist .

They will ask you about your child's development and will also check the following:

• Gross motor skills: Checks whether children are doing things like walking, running, and jumping in an age-appropriate manner.
• Fine motor skills: Watching how to do things like buttoning, using a spoon, and drawing.
• Balance and coordination.

How to treat and manage?

There is no "cure" for dyspraxia. However, if diagnosed early and appropriate therapy is initiated , the child can be taught to live successfully with the condition. This can greatly reduce the symptoms.

• Occupational Therapy: This is the main form of treatment. Here, the child is helped to do daily tasks (eating, dressing, playing) independently. They are taught how to break down large tasks into smaller steps and how to use the necessary devices (e.g., pencil grips, Velcro shoes without laces).
• Physical Therapy: Exercises are given to improve the body's strength, balance, and coordination. This includes things like jumping over obstacles, riding a bike, and playing ball.
• Psychological Support: Psychological counseling is very important to provide the mental strength needed to cope with the frustration, low self-confidence, and behavioral problems caused by dyspraxia.

How can you help as a parent?

You are your child's greatest strength.

• Support your child: Instead of saying "You can't," say "Let's try together." Praise your child's efforts.
• Make the task easier: If it's a big task, break it down into smaller parts. It's okay if you fail once, just help you get used to it again.
• Talk to the school: Talk to your child's class teacher and principal and explain your child's situation. You may be able to get accommodations, such as extra time for exams or the opportunity to type instead of handwrite.
• Follow the therapist's instructions: Do the exercises and tasks given at home together with your child.

Dyspraxia, Developmental Coordination Disorder, DCD, Child Disability, Motor Skills, Child Health