Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), is a neurological condition affecting motor skills, making it hard for the brain to plan and coordinate movements, leading to clumsiness and difficulty with everyday tasks like writing, dressing, or sports, though intelligence isn't affected. It stems from communication issues between the brain and muscles, impacting gross motor skills (walking, running) and fine motor skills (writing, buttoning), and can also affect speech (verbal dyspraxia) or perception, often co-occurring with ADHD or dyslexia.
Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder) symptoms involve clumsiness, poor balance, and difficulty with motor skills, affecting everything from tying shoes and writing (fine motor) to running and sports (gross motor). People with dyspraxia often struggle with sequencing tasks, organizing thoughts, learning new skills, concentrating, and may experience speech difficulties, leading to frustration, anxiety, and avoidance of activities, notes the Cleveland Clinic and NHS.
If you have dyspraxia it may affect:
The fancy term for this is a dual diagnosis. There haven't been many studies about people with both conditions. But, around 10% of people with dyspraxia/DCD show signs of autism. In the same way, around 80% of children with autism (ASD) show signs of dyspraxia in the form of difficulties with movement.
The causes of dyspraxia aren't well understood. It is thought to be caused by a problem with the way connections develop between the nerves in the brain. There seems to be a strong genetic link — children with dyspraxia tend to have a parent with dyspraxia. It's also linked to complications during pregnancy and birth.
Although signs of the condition are present from an early age, children vary widely in their rate of development. This means a definite diagnosis of DCD does not usually happen until a child with the condition is 5 years old or more.
While dyspraxia and ADHD can have different signs, they can also have similar signs. Dyspraxia is a motor-related diagnosis, whereas ADHD is a neurodevelopmental diagnosis. Both dyspraxia and ADHD can co-occur with each other. One condition can easily be misdiagnosed for another.
Children with suspected DCD are usually assessed using a method called the Movement ABC, which involves tests of: gross motor skills – their ability to use large muscles that co-ordinate significant body movements, such as moving around, jumping and balancing.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.
Currently there is no known cure for dyspraxia, and children do not 'grow out of' the condition. While they do not get worse over time, their challenges may become more apparent with increasing academic demands. They have to work harder and/or differently than their peers to achieve the same goals.
Though there are careers that utilise the assets of dyspraxia, such as empathy, and leadership, more than others. These jobs include teaching, coaching, leadership, creative arts and business development, amongst other things.
Dyspraxic children often feel side lined at school and may have behaviour difficulties, become the class 'clown', or withdraw from activities and become loners. They often have poor sense of direction. A “buddy” in a new environment can be very helpful to prevent dyspraxic children (and adults) getting lost.
Famous People with Dyspraxia
DCD is often confused with dyspraxia. Here's the thing, they are very similar and cause a lot of the same types of clumsiness and disorganisation. However, dyspraxia involves planning of tasks. A child with dyspraxia has difficulty to use toys and equipment in novel ways.
Thumb-finding test. Your GP places your hands in a position of their choosing and then asks you to touch your thumb with your other thumb while your eyes are closed. Sequential finger-touching. Your GP will ask you to touch each of your fingers to your thumb, starting with your forefinger.
Dyspraxia behavior stems from motor coordination difficulties, leading to clumsiness, poor balance, and trouble with fine motor skills, often resulting in frustration, low self-esteem, social anxiety, and avoidance of physical activities, alongside potential issues with organization, concentration, and following instructions, all impacting daily life and school performance.
Additionally, inherited genetic variations contribute greatly. Research shows that both mothers and fathers can carry autism-related gene variants. Some of these are common variants that increase the risk of autism, while others are rare mutations causing more severe effects.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Donald Triplett, autism's 'Case 1,' dies at 89. Triplett gained media attention for his autism later in life, and he became the face of the effort to research the lives of older adults with autism.
Movement and co-ordination problems
They often avoid joining in because of their lack of co-ordination and may find physical education difficult. walking up and down stairs. writing, drawing and using scissors – their handwriting and drawings may appear scribbled and less developed compared to other children their age.
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.
Dyspraxia can be diagnosed by professionals including pediatricians, psychologists and learning specialists. More severe cases may be diagnosed by a neurologist, who can determine if a more significant neurological problem is causing the child's challenges.
The 20-minute rule for ADHD is a productivity strategy to overcome task paralysis by committing to work on a task for just 20 minutes, leveraging the brain's need for dopamine and short bursts of focus, making it easier to start and build momentum, with the option to stop or continue after the timer goes off, and it's a variation of the Pomodoro Technique, adapted for ADHD's unique challenges like time blindness. It helps by reducing overwhelm, providing a clear starting point, and creating a dopamine-boosting win, even if you only work for that short period.
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.
The ADHD "30% Rule" is a guideline suggesting that executive functions (like self-regulation, planning, and emotional control) in people with ADHD develop about 30% slower than in neurotypical individuals, meaning a 10-year-old might function more like a 7-year-old in these areas, requiring adjusted expectations for maturity, task management, and behavior. It's a tool for caregivers and adults with ADHD to set realistic goals, not a strict scientific law, helping to reduce frustration by matching demands to the person's actual developmental level (executive age) rather than just their chronological age.