🤸Dyspraxia
Developmental Coordination Disorder
What is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), affects physical coordination and movement. It impacts the brain's ability to plan and coordinate movement, making everyday tasks that require motor skills more challenging. Dyspraxia can affect both gross motor skills (large movements) and fine motor skills (precise movements).
Types of Dyspraxia
Motor Dyspraxia
• Difficulty with gross motor skills
• Problems with balance and coordination
• Challenges with sports and physical activities
• Difficulty with fine motor tasks like writing
Verbal Dyspraxia
• Difficulty coordinating speech muscles
• Problems with speech clarity
• Challenges with rhythm and intonation
• May affect eating and swallowing
Common Characteristics
Physical Challenges
• Poor balance and coordination
• Difficulty with ball skills
• Problems with handwriting
• Challenges with dressing and self-care
Cognitive Aspects
• Difficulty with planning movements
• Problems with spatial awareness
• Challenges with organizing tasks
• Difficulty following multi-step instructions
Strengths & Abilities
• Strong determination and perseverance
• Excellent problem-solving abilities
• Creative thinking and innovation
• Strong empathy and social awareness
• Good verbal communication skills
• Ability to think strategically and plan ahead
Brain Regions Involved
Motor Control Areas
• Cerebellum: Movement coordination and balance
• Motor Cortex: Planning and executing movements
• Basal Ganglia: Movement initiation and control
• Parietal Lobe: Spatial awareness and body position
Planning Networks
• Prefrontal Cortex: Motor planning and sequencing
• Premotor Areas: Movement preparation
• Sensory Integration: Combining sensory information for movement
Support Strategies
• Provide occupational therapy for motor skills development
• Break complex movements into smaller steps
• Use visual cues and demonstrations
• Allow extra time for physical tasks
• Provide assistive tools and adaptive equipment
• Focus on strengths and build confidence