Dyspraxia is a brain-based motor disorder. It affects fine and gross motor skills, motor planning, and coordination. Although it can affect cognitive skills, it’s not related to intelligence.
Dyspraxia symptoms in children
- Unusual body positions
- General irritability
- Sensitivity to loud noises
- Feeding and sleeping problems
- A high level of movement of the arms and legs
As your child grows, you might also observe delays in:
- Crawling
- Walking
- Potty training
- Self-feeding
- Self-dressing
Other signs and symptoms may include:
- Unusual posture
- Difficulty with fine motor skills that affect writing, artwork, and playing with blocks and puzzles
- Coordination problems that make it difficult to hop, skip, jump, or catch a ball
- Hand flapping, fidgeting, or being easily excitable
- Messy eating and drinking
- Temper tantrums
- Becoming less physically fit because they shy away from physical activities
Although intelligence isn’t affected, dyspraxia can make it harder to learn and socialize due to:
- A short attention span for tasks that are difficult
- Trouble following or remembering instructions
- A lack of organizational skills
- Difficulty learning new skills
- Low self-esteem
- Immature behavior
- Trouble making friends
Dyspraxia symptoms in adults
- Abnormal posture
- Balance and movement issues, or gait abnormalities
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Fatigue
- Trouble learning new skills
- Organization and planning problems
- Difficulty writing or using a keyboard
- Having a hard time with grooming and household chores
- Social awkwardness or lack of confidence
Dyspraxia causes
The exact cause of dyspraxia isn’t known, and there may not be a single cause.
Occupational therapy for dyspraxia focuses on enhancing coordination and remains the primary treatment for dyspraxia. Occupational therapists often start by evaluating the areas where the child struggles or displays weakness. The therapist then comes up with a suitable set of techniques and activities that would address these issues particularly.
At Reddy Care Physical and Occupational Therapy, we can get you set up with the right therapist for you. Call today to schedule a consultation!
Great Neck: 475 Northern Blvd., Ste.11, Great Neck, NY 11021
Tel. (516) 829-0030
Farmingdale: 309 North West Dr., Farmingdale, NY 11735 Tel. (516) 420-2900
Woodbury: 150 Woodbury Rd., Woodbury, NY 11797 Tel. (516) 367-1111
Deer Park: 2024 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park, NY 11729 Tel. (631) 243-0247
North Shore Towers: 272-78 Grand Central Pkwy., Floral Park, NY 11005 Tel. (516) 344-0030
In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy (Home Care): 516-829-0030
*Home therapy servicing Long Island, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, the Bronx & Manhattan*
Bayside - Aquatic Therapy: 208-32 Cross Island Pkwy., Bayside, NY11360 Tel. (718) 224-8480
Oceanside: 2421 S Long Beach Rd., Oceanside, NY 11572 Tel. (516) 992-2282
New York City: 250 West 93rd Street, New York, NY 10025 Tel. (212) 580-0125
Sources: https://www.ldexplained.org/learning-disabilities-lp/types-of-learning-disabilities/dyspraxia-definition-causes/recommended-therapies-for-dyspraxia/occupational-therapy-for-dyspraxia/
https://www.healthline.com/health/dyspraxia
Links: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube
Written by:
Dr. Vinod Somareddy, PT, DPT
President
Reddy Care Physical Therapy
Reddy Care Occupational Therapy
Reddy Care Aquatic Therapy
Author
Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy
Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.
