Jessica Sapel

Families that feel that their child does not have great coordination as he or she is growing and learning new skills often wonder if its just clumsiness or something more.  I recently came across an article about dyspraxia that may provide parents with more information about this condition, and help them decide whether or not to seek out an evaluation of their child's skills.  Dyspraxia is a diagnosis that can be difficult to fully understand without the proper resources.

"Deficits of Dyspraxia" in Advance for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine defines dyspraxia as "dys" meaning dysfunction and "praxis" meaning based on will.  In layman's terms, this can be described as being able to accurately complete a task spontaneously, however having difficulty completing the task when instructed by someone else, when attempting a new task, or with specific, conscious intention of their own thought.

The article also describes how children with dyspraxia are able to complete higher level skills,   however may not have mastered lower level, basic fundamentals.  Children with dyspraxia can also have difficulty with ordering the sequence of the activity, achieving the right timing, and using the necessary force required for the activity.  Various body systems as well as treatment approaches are also described in the article.

The full article is available on Advance's website. If you have questions about whether your child may have dyspraxia, please contact a physical therapist at Child and Family Development to discuss your concerns or seek out an evaluation.