Dyspraxia facts for kids
Dyspraxia is a condition that affects how your brain tells your body to move. It makes it harder to do things that need good coordination. It's also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
About 2 to 6 out of every 100 people have dyspraxia. It's more common in boys than in girls. Sometimes it's called 'clumsy child syndrome,' but adults can have it too. People with dyspraxia might also have other conditions like ADHD or autism.
There isn't one single reason why someone has dyspraxia. It might not be noticed until a child is older, or even a teenager. Dyspraxia can't be cured, but people learn ways to manage it. They can find different ways to do tasks that might usually be hard for them.
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What is Dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is a lifelong condition that affects how your brain processes information. This makes it tricky to plan and carry out movements smoothly. It's not about being lazy or not trying hard enough. It's about how the brain and body work together.
People with dyspraxia might find everyday tasks challenging. These tasks can include things like getting dressed or playing sports. But with practice and support, they can learn to do many things well.
How Does Dyspraxia Affect People?
Dyspraxia shows up differently in each person. Some common signs include difficulties with movement and coordination. It can also affect how people learn and remember things.
Common Signs of Dyspraxia
- Finding it hard to tell your left from your right.
- Struggling to learn how to tie shoelaces or a tie.
- Having trouble with balance.
- Sometimes feeling a bit confused or forgetting things.
- Having messy or hard-to-read handwriting. Many people with dyspraxia prefer to use a computer for writing.
Other Conditions Linked to Dyspraxia
People with dyspraxia might also have one or more of these conditions:
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): This involves difficulty paying attention, being very active, or acting without thinking.
- Autism spectrum disorder: This affects how people communicate and interact with others.
- Dyscalculia: This is a difficulty with understanding and doing math.
- Dysgraphia: This makes it hard to write neatly or draw.
- Dyslexia: This is a difficulty with reading and spelling.
- Hypotonia: This means having low muscle tone.
- Sensory processing disorder: This affects how the brain handles information from the senses.
- Specific language impairment (SLI): This is a difficulty with language development.
- Visual perception deficits: This means the brain has trouble understanding what the eyes see.
Famous People with Dyspraxia
Some well-known people have dyspraxia. For example, the actor Daniel Radcliffe, famous for playing Harry Potter, has dyspraxia. This shows that having dyspraxia doesn't stop people from achieving great things!
Images for kids
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A robot, symbolizing how technology can help with learning.
