Dyspraxia: Identifying Key Symptoms and How Occupational Therapy Can Help

Dyspraxia is a neurological motor disorder that impacts fine and gross motor skills, motor planning, and coordination. While it may affect cognitive skills indirectly, dyspraxia is not related to intelligence.

Dyspraxia Symptoms in Children:

Children with dyspraxia may exhibit early signs such as:

• Unusual body positions or posture.
• General irritability and sensitivity to loud noises.
• Feeding and sleeping difficulties.
• Excessive movement of the arms and legs.

As children grow, developmental delays may become more apparent in areas like:

• Crawling, walking, and potty training.
• Self-feeding and self-dressing.

Other signs may include:

• Difficulty with fine motor skills (e.g., writing, drawing, playing with blocks or puzzles).
• Poor coordination, making it hard to hop, skip, jump, or catch a ball.
• Hand-flapping, fidgeting, or excitability.
• Messy eating and drinking habits.
• Avoidance of physical activities, leading to reduced fitness levels.

While intelligence isn’t affected, dyspraxia can interfere with learning and socializing due to:

• A short attention span for challenging tasks.
• Difficulty following or remembering instructions.
• Poor organizational skills.
• Challenges learning new skills.
• Low self-esteem and immature behavior.
• Trouble making friends.

Dyspraxia Symptoms in Adults:

Adults with dyspraxia may experience:

• Abnormal posture and gait issues.
• Balance problems and movement difficulties.
• Poor hand-eye coordination and fatigue.
• Difficulty learning new skills.
• Problems with organization and planning.
• Difficulty with tasks like writing, typing, or grooming.
• Social awkwardness or lack of confidence.

Dyspraxia Causes:

The exact cause of dyspraxia is unknown, and it’s likely that there isn't a single cause.

Occupational Therapy for Dyspraxia:

Occupational therapy is a key treatment approach for dyspraxia, focusing on improving coordination and daily functioning. The therapist begins by assessing the child’s areas of difficulty or weakness, and then develops a personalized set of activities and techniques to address these specific challenges. This helps improve motor skills and confidence in day-to-day tasks.

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!

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Sources: Resource 1  Resource 2  

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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.