Developmental Dyspraxia

Hi Nancy! While it is very hard to see your children go thru these things, with a diagnosis your efforts can be more targeted and effective...so that's a good thing!

I have a great CD from an associate who is an occupational therapist who has helped my niece with sensory integration disorder. I think you would be encouraged by it...and it has helpful tips too. May I pop a copy into the mail for you?

warmly, M.

pay close attention to the following info....I had my son in speech therapy by the time he was 2 years old for being language delayed....I feel that one on one attention will help your child the most. Go to an occupational therapist and have him fitted for an AMTRYKE.....You can find out about amtrykes from ambucs.org. get him an amtryke to help out with motor skills....

a blurb from answers.com;

"Neurological Disorder: Dyspraxia
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Home > Library > Health > Neurological Encyclopedia
Definition

Dyspraxia is a neurological disorder of motor coordination usually apparent in childhood that manifests as difficulty in thinking out, planning out, and executing planned movements or tasks. The term dyspraxia derives from the Greek word praxis, meaning "movement process."

Description

The earliest description of a syndrome of clumsiness, termed "congenital maladroitness," dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. Since that time, numerous names have been given to this syndrome of impaired coordination, including dyspraxia, developmental dyspraxia, developmental coordination disorder, clumsy child syndrome, and sensory integration disorder. Some sources ascribe different meanings to these terms, while others use them interchangeably. Researchers commonly use the term developmental coordination disorder (DCD); DCD is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSMIV-TR) as a motor skills disorder.

Dyspraxia is a variable condition; it manifests in different ways at different ages. It may impair physical, intellectual, emotional, social, language, and/or sensory development. Dyspraxia is often subdivided into two types: developmental dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder, and verbal dyspraxia, also known as developmental apraxia of speech. Symptoms of the dyspraxia typically appear in childhood, anywhere from infancy to adolescence, and can persist into adult years. Other disorders such as dyslexia, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder often co-occur in children with dyspraxia.

Demographics

Estimates of the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder are approximately 6% in children aged 5–11. Some reports indicate a higher prevalence in the 10–20% range. Males are four times more likely than females to have dyspraxia. In some cases, the disorder may be familial.

Causes and symptoms

Developmental dyspraxia is apparent from birth or early in life. As of 2004, the underlying cause or causes for dyspraxia remain largely unknown. It is thought that any number of factors such as illness or trauma may adversely affect normal brain development, resulting in dyspraxia. Genes may also play a role in the development of dyspraxia. It is known that dyspraxia can be acquired (acquired dyspraxia) due to brain damage suffered as a result of stroke, an accident, or other trauma.

Symptoms of dyspraxia vary and may include some or all of the following problems:

poor balance and coordination
vision problems
perceptual problems
poor spatial awareness
poor posture
poor short-term memory
difficulty planning motor tasks
difficulty with reading, writing, and speech
emotional and behavioral problems
poor social skills
The symptoms of dyspraxia depend somewhat on the age of the child. Young children will have delayed motor milestones such as crawling, walking, and jumping. Older children may present with academic problems such as difficulty with reading and writing or with playing ball games.

Developmental verbal dyspraxia (DVD), a type of dyspraxia, can manifest as early as infancy with feeding problems. Children with DVD may display delays in expressive language, difficulty in producing speech, reduced intelligibility of speech, and inconsistent production of familiar words.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of dyspraxia is based on observation of a patient's symptoms and on results of standardized tests. Findings from a neurological or neurodevelopmental evaluation may also be used to confirm a suspected diagnosis. The process of making a diagnosis of dyspraxia can be complex for a number of reasons. Dyspraxia may affect many different body functions, it can occur as a part of another syndrome, and symptoms of dyspraxia overlap with similar disorders such as dyslexia.

Diagnostic criteria

Various health professionals and organizations define the term dyspraxia differently. The Dyspraxia Foundation (England) describes it as "an impairment or immaturity of the organization of movement," and further adds that it may be associated with problems in language, perception, and thought. Other advocacy groups such as the Dyspraxia Association of Ireland and the Dyspraxia Foundation of New Zealand, Inc. offer slightly different definitions. The American Psychiatric Association lists four criteria in the DSM-IV-TR for the diagnosis of developmental coordination disorder:

marked impairment in the development of motor coordination
the impaired coordination significantly interferes with academic achievement or activities of daily living
the coordination difficulties are not due to a general medical problem such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy and do not meet the criteria for pervasive developmental disorder
if mental retardation (MR) is present, the motor coordination problems exceed those typically associated with the MR
Treatment team

Treatment for individuals with dyspraxia is highly individualized because the manifestations vary from patient to patient. The treatment team for a child with dyspraxia may include a pediatric neurologist, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist, in addition to a family doctor or pediatrician. In some cases, the treatment team may also include a psychologist, a developmental optometrist, and specialists in early intervention or special education.

Treatment

Currently there is no cure for dyspraxia. Treatment mainly consists of rehabilitation through physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Other interventions such as special education, psychological therapy, or orthoptic exercises may be recommended on a case-by-case basis. The purpose of treatment for dyspraxia is to help the child to think out, plan out, and execute the actions necessary to try out new tasks or familiar tasks in novel ways.

Recovery and rehabilitation

There are specific therapies for dyspraxia. In physical therapy, a physical therapist may evaluate some or all of the following skill areas in order to formulate a plan of treatment with the patient's physician:

muscle tone
control of shoulders and pelvis
active trunk extension and flexion (posture)
hand-eye coordination (throwing a ball)
foot-eye coordination (kicking a ball)
midline crossing (writing)
directional awareness (ability to move in different directions)
spatial awareness (judge distances and direction)
integration (moving both sides of the body simultaneously)
knowledge of two sides/dominance of one side (knowing right from left)
short-term memory
motor planning (ability to plan movements needed to move from one position to another)
self organization (dressing, eating, etc.)
eye tracking
Physical therapy generally consists of activities and exercises designed to improve the specific skill weakness. For example, activities such as climbing, going through tunnels, and moving in and out of cones may assist a child who has poor spatial awareness. The physical therapist may also recommend that the child practice the treatment activities or exercises at home.

In occupational therapy, an occupational therapist may use standardized tests to evaluate the child's sensory integration skills. A therapeutic technique known as sensory integration may be recommended. Sensory integration techniques help a child to sort, store, and integrate information obtained by the senses so that it may be used for learning.

In speech therapy, a speech therapist may assist the child with areas such as muscle control, planning language, and forming concepts and strategies in order to communicate. The therapist may use language tests to assess language comprehension and production in order to develop a plan of treatment

Clinical trials

As of 2004, there was one clinical trial recruiting patients with a form of dyspraxia known as verbal dyspraxia. The aim of the study, entitled "Central Mechanisms in Speech Motor Control Studied with H2150 PET," is to use radioactive water (H2150) and positron emission tomography (PET) scan to measure blood flow to different areas of the brain in order to better understand the mechanisms involved in speech motor control. Information on this trial can be found at (see study number 92-DC-0178) or by contacting the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) patient recruitment and public liaison office at (800) 411-1010.

Prognosis

The prognosis for dyspraxia varies. Some children "outgrow" their condition, whereas others continue to have difficulties into adulthood. Though early diagnosis and prompt treatment may improve the outcome for a given patient, the precise factors that influence prognosis are not well understood. For example, it remains unclear how factors such as a child's specific deficits and the underlying cause for the disorder influence rehabilitation potential. Also, the prognosis for dyspraxia is situational; it depends on the age of the patient and the demands of a given setting or environment.

Special concerns

A child with a diagnosis of dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder may be eligible to have an individual education plan (IEP). An IEP provides a framework from which administrators, teachers, and parents can meet the educational needs of a child with dyspraxia. Depending upon severity of symptoms and the presence of other problems such as learning difficulties, children may be best served by special education classes or by a private educational setting." from answers.com

Resources

Very importan tthat you try vision therapy. Check Vision Associates on CHerry Hill. near Hill.
Also stimulating the shen men point on his ear can help.
Check downloads on www.corehealthinsittute.com

Hi Nancy!

My 5 year old son has a similar developmental diagnosis and we have found private Occupational Therapy VERY helpful! Rather than going through the schools, we had to get a "non-developmental" diagnosis of Apraxia in order for our medical insurance to cover private treatment. From there, we began our work with an OT who specializes in Sensory Integration therapies. She was excellent at assessing which therapies would help our son most in a school setting, and also is guiding us through Social Skills therapies....specifically, using "social stories" to help him through some of the emotional difficulties associated with being more challenged than some of his peers.

Hang in there, Mama!

Get this book (IGNORE THE TITLE, okay, and do NOT let it scare you): "The Fabric of Autism," by Judith Bluestone. It's the best book about sensory integration I've ever ever read (and I've read most of them).

You might be interested in a DAN! doctor (Defeat Autism Now) because ADHD and autism are a lot alike in terms of labwork.

Essential Fatty Acids would be one supplement I would look into, making sure there are no fish allergies, and checking w/ the doctor about dosage. Epsom salts bath can help with both attention and hyperactivity. (I am not a doctor, this is not medical advice)

Kaufman Center, The Abilities Center, Sensory Systems, -- there are wonderful clinics all over metro Detroit who have experienced ot's and speech therapists who can help, too. Where are you located?

I am interested in hearing more about your son. How old is he and what "signs" or symptoms did he have. A man at a resturant told me Sunday night that his son was diagnosed with Dyspraxia and is now 10 or 14. He happened to see my son scooting on his butt and said this was an early sign for him and his wife. Please let me know what you hear or what I should look for. My son is 16 months. Thanks and good luck to you.