Developmental dyspraxia (patient information)
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Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor-In-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.
Synonyms and Keywords: Developmental coordination disorder
Overview
Developmental coordination disorder is a childhood disorder that leads to poor coordination and clumsiness.
What are the symptoms of Developmental dyspraxia?
Children with developmental coordination disorder have difficulties with motor coordination compared to other children the same age. Some common symptoms include:
- Clumsiness
- Delays in sitting up, crawling, and walking
- Problems with sucking and swallowing during first year of life
- Problems with gross motor coordination (for example, jumping, hopping, or standing on one foot)
- Problems with fine motor coordination (for example, writing, using scissors, tying shoelaces, or tapping one finger to another)
What causes Developmental dyspraxia?
- About 6% of school-age children have some kind of developmental coordination disorder.
- Children with this disorder may:
- Have trouble holding objects
- Have an unsteady walk
- Run into other children
- Trip over their own feet
- Developmental coordination disorder may occur alone or with other learning disorders, such as communication disorders or disorder of written expression.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call for an appointment with a health care provider if you are concerned about your child's development.
Diagnosis
Physical causes and other types of learning disabilities must be ruled out before the diagnosis can be confirmed.
Treatment options
- Physical education and perceptual motor training are the best ways to treat coordination disorder.
- Using a computer to take notes may help children who have trouble writing.
- Children with developmental coordination disorder are three times more likely to be overweight than other children their age. Encouraging physical activity is important to prevent obesity.
Where to find medical care for Developmental dyspraxia?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Developmental dyspraxia
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
How well a child does depends on the severity of the disorder. The disorder does not get worse over time. It usually continues into adulthood.
Possible complications
- Learning problems
- Low self-esteem resulting from poor ability at sports and teasing by other children
- Repeated injuries
- Weight gain as a result of not wanting to participate in physical activities (such as sports)
Prevention
Families who are affected by this condition should try to recognize problems early and have them treated. Early treatment will lead to future success.