Dyspraxia Explained – Let’s explore some common myths
Dyspraxia is a term that describes the sensory processing difficulty children and adults have when they struggle to plan, organise and coordinate their movements. The term is commonly used to describe anyone who is clumsy or has poor coordination. In this post I discuss some of the common myths surrounding the term dyspraxia. I will cover
Dyspraxia is a term that describes the sensory processing difficulty children and adults have when they struggle to plan, organise and coordinate their movements. The term is commonly used to describe anyone who is clumsy or has poor coordination. In this post I discuss some of the common myths surrounding the term dyspraxia. I will cover
Dyspraxia Explained – Let’s explore some common myths
Dyspraxia is a term that describes the sensory processing difficulty children and adults have when they struggle to plan, organise and coordinate their movements. The term is commonly used to describe anyone who is clumsy or has poor coordination. In this post I discuss some of the common myths surrounding the term dyspraxia. I will cover
Myth 1: My child is clumsy – they must have dyspraxia!
Dyspraxia was first described by Jean Ayres when she was outlining her theory of Sensory Integration. It is also one of the sensory difficulties outlined in the Lucy Miller’s work. For those working in the field and those living with dyspraxia, we know that there is much more to dyspraxia that just being clumsy.
The term dyspraxia originates from the Greek root ‘dux’ meaning difficult or bad and ‘praxis’ meaning action. So, in short, it is a ‘difficulty in doing actions’. In the sensory world we like to think of action as movement. So, if you’re dyspraxic you experience difficulty with making actions happen.
Three different components make up action
So dyspraxia includes difficulty with ideation and/or planning!
Dyspraxic individuals will typically have difficulty with at least two of these areas. Some people with dyspraxia may have difficulty with all three areas. So, they are not just clumsy with their movements. They must also have difficulty either thinking of an idea of what to do and/or figuring out how to do it.
Typically dyspraxia is most obvious with new tasks and in new situations as these require much more planning than familiar tasks. If the child or adult only has difficulty with doing, then this would not meet the criteria for dyspraxia as initially described by Ayres. Kim explains this idea further in the video below.
Dyspraxia is much more than a little clumsiness. Individuals with dyspraxia will also have difficulty with planning and/or ideation. This make is much harder for them to learn new activities.
Myth 2: Dyspraxia is NOT a diagnosis.
Whilst the term dyspraxia is widely used, it is not actually a medial diagnosis. t is not listed in the diagnostic manuals or in the international disease classification document. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is the recognised diagnosis for dyspraxia. Therefore, paediatricians and occupational therapists use the term DCD when giving a formal diagnosis, however, the terms are often used interchangeably.
DCD is a formal diagnosis. Children with DCD must have delays with their motor skills greater than would be expected for their age. Their difficulties need to affect all areas of their life, so both at school and home. The delays in their motor skills must also not be due to another condition, such as cerebral palsy. It is recommended that this condition is not diagnosed until after the age of four to five, but some paediatricians may wait until seven. Often, there are challenges with organisation, planning and time keeping.
So, is there a difference between dyspraxia and DCD?
These days the terms are used interchangeably. The term dyspraxia is probably more widely known than DCD. Some individuals prefer the term dyspraxia. Also, it is now recognised that the difficulties experienced continue into adulthood. So, some people feel the term ‘developmental’ is unhelpful as it suggests the difficulties will be grown out of.
Sometimes, a DCD diagnosis might be given if there are only difficulties with motor coordination. So, the individual might not have difficulties with ideas or planning, they only have difficulties making movement itself. However, this is ongoing research into executive functioning skills of those diagnosed with DCD. This includes a 2024 study which identified that attention, executive function and processing speed can be affected. Parents of dyspraxic children also report concerns with their children’s mental health and social well-being.
For me, as a sensory trained occupational therapist, I would only use the term dyspraxia if an individual had difficulties with planning and organisation, as well as their motor skills. This is a small distinction but it links back initial Sensory Integration (SI) studies.
Individuals with dsypraxia may also have difficulties with touch sensory processing as well. This was a pattern observed by Ayres in her original SI work.
Does this matter?
Knowing whether a person has planning or just movement difficulties matters as the two conditions require different treatment approaches. If the child or adult only has challenges with the motor performance, then practising their motor skills will help improve their abilities. If, however, they have difficulties with ideation and planning, they will also need support to develop their ability to think of ideas and to plan what they will do.
This is very important to remember if you are the one helping a child or adult with dyspraxia. Firstly, they will need more help and time when learning new tasks. Secondly, they will not necessarily generalise (transfer) skills they have learnt from one activity to the next one. I have seen a child unable to transfer the skill of putting on his winter coat to putting on his autumn coat. Because the coats were different for him, it was like learning the skill of putting on a coat all over again. He was not being difficult or naughty; he genuinely could not transfer the skill.
Finally, they will need support to either come up with ideas, figure out how to plan their idea or both. This is different to children who have the idea and know what to do but have poor coordination and just need to work on their motor skills. I explore some supports you can use to help individuals with dyspraxia here. This link is at the bottom of this page as well as you likely want to read the rest of this article first!
Noah’s story – experiences of dyspraxia
Noah is always really enthusiastic, but his mother worries about his attention. His preschool teacher says he never stays at any play station for too long. He also never comes up with an idea what to do in the imaginative play corner. It is possible that Noah could have difficulties with ideation and planning. This makes him look inattentive, but actually he just can’t figure out what to do with toys, so he moves on.
Myth 3 – If a child has dyslexia then they also have dyspraxia.
Dyslexia refers to a difficulty with reading. It is completely different to dyspraxia. Children and adults with dyspraxia may also have dyslexia but they are definitely not the same thing! You can read more about dyslexia here. Another term that is often confused with dyspraxia and dyslexia is dyscalculia. Dyscalculia refers to difficulty with numbers and mathematics. The three terms refer to three very different difficulties. All three can occur together but do need to be treated with different support strategies. Dyspraxia can often occur alongside other sensory processing difficulties such as poor sensory modulation. It is a common neurodiversity in autism, with 2023 research suggesting up to 88% of autistic children have impaired motor skills.
Dyspraxia Myth 4 – It’s just about motor skills
As mentioned above, more and more the research is showing that there are also difficulties with executive functions. Executive functions relate to cognition skills like organisation, planning, memory and inhibition. This means there is a much wider level of need that might be initially thought. Supports are needed for much more than motor coordination.
Myth 5: Children and adults who are dyspraxic can’t be good at sports
These children and adults often just need more practice than others! They will find the initial learning stage much more difficult than others do. However, with practice and clear instructions, they can learn and also succeed at sports. It is very important to find a patient coach or teacher and just make sure you allow more time for them to practice and learn. Their own motivation and confidence building is very important to help them to succeed.
Listen to Kim discuss Dyspraxia with dale on the SENDCast
Where to next?
If you would like to learn more about the signs of dyspraxia I recommend this post – Is my child dyspraxic?
If you would like to learn more about sensory processing, including dyspraxia, I recommend my online training – Sensory Processing with GriffinOT.
To learn more about what you can do to help individuals with dyspraxia I recommend this post – How to Help Children with Dyspraxia.
Photo Credits
Title Picture – Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash
Boy 1 – Photo by Chris Benson on Unsplash
Football figure – Photo by Click and Boo on Unsplash
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