Dyspraxia - Symptoms of Dyspraxia and Treatment

Dyspraxia is a disorder that affects gross and fine motor skill coordination. Generally dyspraxia typically becomes apparent in early childhood as the child shows delays in development. It is also possible to develop this disorder as a result of a stroke or other traumatic brain injury; this is classified as acquired dyspraxia.

Some of the symptoms of dyspraxia are:

A lack of balance and coordination
Impaired spatial awareness
Difficulty with speech development
Impaired social skills
Emotional and behavioral problems
Perceptual difficulty

The classifications of dyspraxia can vary depending upon the individual case. Some individuals have much more difficulty with motor skill development such as crawling, walking, and even feeding themselves. Other people affected by dyspraxia may have much more specific difficulties with speech; this is oftentimes referred to as verbal dyspraxia or developmental apraxia of speech. Other names that may be used to identify this disorder are: clumsy child syndrome, sensory integration disorder, and developmental coordination disorder.

Causes:

There are currently no known causes. Experts believe there may be a genetic component, and there are a higher number of males affected than females.

Treatment:

As with all neurological disorders, the earlier the diagnosis is made, the more likely the child will be to benefit from different types of therapy. Occupational and speech therapy are prescribed, depending upon the needs of the individual diagnosed.

Dyspraxia: Symptoms of Dyspraxia and Treatment