Dyspraxia

How to Identify Dyspraxia / DCD in Your Child

Children with DCD or Dyspraxia may appear clumsy or uncoordinated compared to their peers, and often struggle with motor tasks. Common indicators include:

• Slow development of skills needed to manage different food textures, preferring soft or easily meltable foods
• Delays in self-care skills like dressing, grooming, and hygiene
• Difficulty using cutlery, drinking from an open cup, or using a straw
• Frequent dropping or breaking objects due to poor fine motor control
• Trouble coordinating both hands for tasks like catching or throwing
• Poor gross motor skills such as hopping, jumping, skipping, running, or climbing
• Handwriting challenges, which are a frequent symptom of DCD
• Struggles with more complex tasks like swimming, riding a bike, or using a scooter
• Difficulty using tools like pencils, scissors, or rulers
• School-related problems, particularly with completing written work or participating in physical education

How Can an Occupational Therapist Help?

Our pediatric occupational therapist is trained to assess and support children with DCD. Standardized tools are used to compare a child’s motor skills against developmental benchmarks. A diagnosis of DCD may be given when motor skills are significantly behind those of peers, in the absence of other developmental issues.

The therapist works with families to identify areas of daily life that are particularly challenging, providing individualized strategies and treatment. This might include focused therapy sessions on developing specific skills like handwriting or physical coordination, as well as offering practical advice for teachers to implement in the classroom to enhance a child’s success in academic and physical activities.

Why is Intervention Important for DCD?

Coordination difficulties associated with DCD often persist over time, but with targeted intervention, children can improve their ability to perform everyday motor tasks. Regular practice and effort are key to gradual improvement, but it’s essential to carefully select which motor skills to work on, as they can be especially challenging for children with DCD. Rather than aiming to completely change a child’s motor abilities, intervention focuses on developing specific skills to help them participate more successfully in daily activities, reducing the risk of secondary academic, social, or emotional difficulties.