DYSPRAXIA

Dyspraxia is a decreased ability to coordinate and perform certain purposeful movements and gestures in the absence of motor or sensory impairments. Also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

Children with DCD normally find that it takes lots of effort to learn new tasks. There are studies done which shows that they do out grow this condition. This condition might interfere with academic performance (i.e. handwriting difficulties that results in slow copying skills) or activities of daily living (i.e. dressing problems like difficulty with tying shoelaces and buttoning). Occupational Therapy for children with DCD aims at improving the child’s ability to integrate movement, sensation and organization skills.

Occupational Therapist may work with children with DCD in the following ways:

• Environmental modification / adaptation to compensate for difficulty: Occupational Therapist may advise or prescribe the use of pencil grips and to type instead of writing etc.
• Improving their coordination, balance and postural control: Using sensory integration approach to develop fun and effective treatment programs.
• Specific skills training: E.g. practice tying shoelaces, forming letters/numbers etc.