People with dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder) experience the world through a lens of disrupted information processing, leading to challenges with spatial awareness (misjudging distances, bumping into things), motor planning (difficulty with movement and coordination), and sensory integration (overload from noise/touch). This makes navigating physical spaces, following instructions, and even translating thoughts into speech difficult, often feeling like navigating without a blueprint, resulting in fatigue, disorganization, and anxiety, despite normal intelligence.
Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a neurological condition that affects fine and gross motor skills. People with the condition may have difficulty with tasks such as writing, tying shoelaces, catching a ball, or using scissors. It can also affect speech, language, and social skills.
Dyspraxia can disrupt the visual information coming to the brain from the eyes, causing issues with visual processing. Because of this disruption, the brain sometimes has to be selective with the information it considers, causing certain things to be ignored or missed.
Dyspraxia is also a specific learning difficulty because it can impact on how we think of something, plan, organise and sequence our thoughts to complete different tasks and actions. Dyspraxia has nothing to do with intellect, most people are of average to above average intelligence.
A child with DCD may appear awkward and clumsy as they may bump into objects, drop things and fall over a lot. But this in itself isn't necessarily a sign of DCD, as many children who appear clumsy actually have all the normal movement (motor) skills for their age.
Symptoms of dyspraxia
You may find routine tasks difficult. If you have dyspraxia it may affect: your co-ordination, balance and movement. how you learn new skills, think, and remember information at work and home.
According to The Dyspraxic Chef, Einstein was 'thought of as being dyspraxic' or 'having had dyspraxia tendencies. ' Michael Fitzgerald, professor of psychiatry at Trinity College in Dublin, believed that Einstein also had Asperger syndrome, a type of autistic spectrum disorder, due to his creativity.
People who have dyspraxia may struggle or seem awkward in social situations. They may display some of the following behaviours: Missing or misunderstanding social cues. Struggling to take turns talking or interrupting.
Dyspraxia often co-occurs with other learning differences, such as dyslexia, ADHD and autism. Many people with dyspraxia are creative, determined and good at problem-solving.
Fact: There is no connection between dyspraxia and low IQ. Having dyspraxia does not mean a child isn't intelligent. However, the way children with dyspraxia behave might make them appear less capable than they are.
Dyspraxia can make it difficult for people to maintain attention and focus, especially when there are distractions and interruptions. Some people can also experience excessive tiredness.
What are the symptoms of dyspraxia? Children with dyspraxia may be late in reaching normal developmental milestones for example an early sign of dyspraxia is a child taking longer to roll over, sit, crawl, stand, walk, speak and toilet train.
In general, a dyspraxia diagnosis should not prevent you from learning to drive. Sure, you'll have to accept that it will be harder for you to get to grips with the basics and the whole process could take longer than average, but it's not a solid roadblock.
So, what are good jobs for people with dyspraxia?
Daniel Radcliffe (Actor)
Best known for his titular role in the Harry Potter films, Daniel revealed that he had a mild form of dyspraxia in 2008 in an interview for his Broadway debut in Equus. He was unsuccessful at school and 'he sometimes still has trouble tying his shoelaces. '
Dyspraxic adults may also walk with a different gait, bump into things frequently and/or have trouble participating in sports. In some cases oral language skills are affected.
The challenges that come with dyspraxia should never overshadow the incredible strengths that individuals with the condition bring to the table. By embracing these superpowers—creativity, problem-solving, persistence, empathy, and adaptability—organisations can harness a new level of innovation and performance.
Every small victory in the creative process is a testament to the strength and dedication of dyspraxic individuals. Whether it's learning a simple song on the piano, completing a drawing, or mastering a basic dance routine, these achievements deserve recognition and celebration.
Poor sleep, stress and depression are common. Adults with dyspraxia can be prone to low self-esteem, emotional outbursts, phobias, fears, obsessions and compulsions, and addictive behaviours.
Tend to get stressed, depressed and anxious easily. May have difficulty sleeping. Prone to low self-esteem, emotional outbursts, phobias, fears, obsessions, compulsions and addictive behaviour.
While indicators of DCD/dyspraxia are varied they may include challenges in some or multiple of the more common areas:
It has also been suggested that disturbances of posture, also known as dyspraxia, as well as impairments in locomotion, facial expression, interests and affect, and inattention to other people's expressions, could be early markers of ASD.
In 2008, Radcliffe revealed that he has a mild form of the neurological disorder dyspraxia, which sometimes prevents him from doing simple activities such as writing or tying his shoelaces.
Bill Gates, one of the richest people in the world didn't let his dyslexia hold him back.
Cara Delevingne – Supermodel & Actor
In the Vogue interview she talks of her dyspraxia and how, as a child, writing was hard and exams were always a nightmare. After sixth form she went to an 'arty boarding school' where she threw herself into drama and music.