Dyspraxia...

[Firkin D]

Can anyone help as I have done the usual GP, school and health visitor route already. I believe my 8 years has some leaning towards this but no one will take me seriously. I have copied these symptons from the Foundation website. Obviously not all apply.

3 years old
Symptoms are evident from an early age. Babies are usually irritable from birth and may exhibit significant feeding problems. Yes

They are slow to achieve expected developmental milestones. For example, by the age of eight months they still may not sit independently.

Many children with dyspraxia fail to go through the crawling stages, preferring to 'bottom shuffle' and then walk. They usually avoid tasks which require good manual dexterity.

Pre-school children - 3 to 5 year olds
If dyspraxia is not identified, problems can persist and affect the childís life at school. Increasing frustration and lowering of self-esteem can result.

Children with dyspraxia may demonstrate some of these types of behaviour:

Very high levels of motor activity, including feet swinging and tapping when seated, hand-clapping or twisting. Unable to stay still Big yes

High levels of excitability, with a loud/shrill voice HUGE yes, the constant shrill really stresses me out

May be easily distressed and prone to temper tantrums Yes

May constantly bump into objects and fall over Yes

Hands flap when running

Difficulty with pedalling a tricycle or similar toy Yes, only removed stabilisers on her bike at 6 years old

Lack of any sense of danger (jumping from heights etc)

Continued messy eating. May prefer to eat with their fingers, frequently spill drinks yes

Avoidance of constructional toys, such as jigsaws or building blocks

Poor fine motor skills.

Difficulty in holding a pencil or using scissors. Drawings may appear immature Yes

Lack of imaginative play. May show little interest in dressing up or in playing appropriately in a home corner or wendy house

Limited creative play

Isolation within the peer group. Rejected by peers, children may prefer adult company Not necessarily adults but older children

Laterality (left- or right-handedness) still not established

Persistent language difficulties

Sensitive to sensory stimulation, including high levels of noise, tactile defensiveness, wearing new clothes

Limited response to verbal instruction.Yes

May be slow to respond and have problems with comprehension limited concentration. Yes

Tasks are often left unfinished Yes


By 7 years old Problems may include:

Difficulties in adapting to a structured school routine

Difficulties in Physical Education lessons

Slow at dressing. Unable to tie shoe laces Only mastered dressing herself recently

Barely legible handwriting yes

Immature drawing and copying skills

Limited concentration and poor listening skills

Literal use of language

Inability to remember more than two or three instructions at once Big yes

Slow completion of class work Yes

Continued high levels of motor activity Yes

Hand flapping or clapping when excited

Tendency to become easily distressed and emotional Yes

Problems with co-ordinating a knife and fork Sometimes


Inability to form relationships with other children

Sleeping difficulties, including wakefulness at night and nightmares Big yes, constantly having to put her back to bed

Reporting of physical symptoms, such as migraine, headaches, feeling sick Hypocondriac in the making...

By 8 to 9 years old
Children with dyspraxia may have become disaffected with the education system. Handwriting is often a particular difficulty. By the time they reach secondary education their attendance record is often poor.

Do you think I have reason to be concerned or am I being a nurotic parent?

Let the criticsm begin in true PH style, but hopefully there will be a few sane and helpful answers!

[ofcorsa]

TBH i answered yes to alot of them, im sure health care proffesionals would have a more accurate diagnosis

[Overhaulin]

I understand your concern, but wonder why the professional seem unhelpful.

What has your GP made of the symptoms you have listed.

Could you not get another GP opinion.

[Steamer]

Does she have any brothers or sisters?

I didnt when i was growing up, probably answered yes to most of those things on your list.. I just did things my own way, hence probably appeared abit slower than the rest. I just figured my own way to do things.

What toys does she play with?

Obviously a bit different boys, but the one thing that I REALLY didnt answer 'yes' to on that list was the building toys / puzzles and drawing (my drawing probably wasnt great) but I was drawing cars, cranes ect from a very early age and building life size functioning mecanical things with my lego (bird feeders ect..)

Edited by Steamer on Saturday 18th October 20:33

[Firkin D]

Overhaulin said:

What has your GP made of the symptoms you have listed.

Could you not get another GP opinion.

My GP put a lot of it down to her parents splitting up, but said all children display some of the symptoms only she displayed the 3-5 year old ones prior to us splitting up.

Regards another opinion that is really why I asked the school and Health Visitor.

Steamer said:

Does she have any brothers or sisters?

I didnt when i was growing up, probably answered yes to most of those things on your list.. I just did things my own way, hence probably appeared abit slower than the rest. I just figured my own way to do things.

What toys does she play with?

She has a brother born when she was 5 & a half.

She plays with dolls, quite immature really.

Edited by Firkin D on Saturday 18th October 20:40

[captainzep]

I don't know much about dyspraxia.

Have you used the 'ask a professional' section of the Foundation website?

I suspect that dyspraxia is one of those conditions which usual primary care avenues don't always help with much because there's no real cure. Its accommodation by the individual (with help) over time.

Perhaps see another GP. Explain your concerns respectfully but assertively. They are the gatekeeper as you've probably worked out. If the GP won't refer to neurology/psych-services explore why. They have a great deal of expertise but you are the expert on your child. If you can afford to go private or are willing to find the money state this to the GP too.

I would take some comfort from the lack of concern from the health professionals. But if its eating away at you, you've got to be a dog with a bone with certain things sometimes.

[Overhaulin]

Firkin D said:

Overhaulin said:

What has your GP made of the symptoms you have listed.

Could you not get another GP opinion.

My GP put a lot of it down to her parents splitting up, but said all children display some of the symptoms only she displayed the 3-5 year old ones prior to us splitting up.

Regards another opinion that is really why I asked the school and Health Visitor.

I could understand the emotional symptoms listed having a bearing on you splitting up, but not the motor skills.

You might just have to keep banging on at the school and GP maybe get a referal to a child physcologist

Can you not contact the foundation directly for advice. I see there is a ask a question feature on the website.

[mark387mw]

Been through this in the last couple of years with our 12 year old. Thought it was ADD or Dyslexia or Dyspraxia, then eventually got her seen by a specialist and they diagnosed Aspergers.
Answered a lot of questions and really made sense and our understanding of her difficulties.

[davido140]

Firkin D said:

She plays with dolls, quite immature really.

Edited by Firkin D on Saturday 18th October 20:40

Did I read you OP right, she's eight isnt she? nowt wrong with playing with dolls at that age.. 18 and I think you should start to worry..

I feel your pain about getting any kind of help from school and gp, I'm off to hospital with my 8yr old son on monday to see a specialist about his potential autism/aspergers syndrome. taken 8 months to get an appointment, although the school are convinced he has aspergers they are unable to give him any additional help unless he has an official "statement" thingie from the LEA signed off by a doc.

So for as long as we have really known that he has an issue there has been no additional help or assistance at school.

[MentalSarcasm]

davido140 said:

Firkin D said:

She plays with dolls, quite immature really.

Edited by Firkin D on Saturday 18th October 20:40

Did I read you OP right, she's eight isnt she? nowt wrong with playing with dolls at that age.. 18 and I think you should start to worry..

That's what I was going to say, my sister is 8 and she still plays with dolls, mostly Bratz dolls. The other day she put her favourite stuffed animal in the window so "it can watch me come home". She just has a very good imagination, and she's a bit soft hearted.

[MentalSarcasm]

Also, on the handwriting section of things, is she left or right handed?

[Firkin D]

MentalSarcasm said:

davido140 said:

Firkin D said:

She plays with dolls, quite immature really.

Edited by Firkin D on Saturday 18th October 20:40

Did I read you OP right, she's eight isnt she? nowt wrong with playing with dolls at that age.. 18 and I think you should start to worry..

That's what I was going to say, my sister is 8 and she still plays with dolls, mostly Bratz dolls. The other day she put her favourite stuffed animal in the window so "it can watch me come home". She just has a very good imagination, and she's a bit soft hearted.

If she had moved onto bratz dolls and barbie etc I would be happy enough but it is all dolls that a 3 year old would play. Really quite babyish at times wanting to bathe them, feed them. At 8 I would have expected her to move onto the Bratz kind as said and onto more story telling of life through a doll. Does that make sense?

[davido140]

Firkin D said:

MentalSarcasm said:

davido140 said:

Firkin D said:

She plays with dolls, quite immature really.

Edited by Firkin D on Saturday 18th October 20:40

Did I read you OP right, she's eight isnt she? nowt wrong with playing with dolls at that age.. 18 and I think you should start to worry..

That's what I was going to say, my sister is 8 and she still plays with dolls, mostly Bratz dolls. The other day she put her favourite stuffed animal in the window so "it can watch me come home". She just has a very good imagination, and she's a bit soft hearted.

If she had moved onto bratz dolls and barbie etc I would be happy enough but it is all dolls that a 3 year old would play. Really quite babyish at times wanting to bathe them, feed them. At 8 I would have expected her to move onto the Bratz kind as said and onto more story telling of life through a doll. Does that make sense?

Probably the least of your worries to be honest, my boy is still very attached to his "bunny" that he sleeps with every night. I'd imagine most 8-9 year old boys are a bit past cuddly toys. Not going to loose any sleep over it though, he'll grow out of it at some point, as I am sure your daughter will too. Just let them enjoy being a "little kid" for that bit longer.

for what its worth, I'd be hoping she NEVER goes anywhere near a Bratz doll, utterly fking horrific things... yuk. Bratz Babiez actually made my stomach turn, quite repulsive.

Back to your original question though, I'd a chat with my sons mum about this, she reminded me that we had to request a change of GP from the local health authority in order to get our son referred to hospital to see a specialist. Might be worth a try to get a 2nd opinion

[Stigmundfreud]

have you considered adhd?

[Firkin D]

davido140 said:

I'd a chat with my sons mum about this, she reminded me that we had to request a change of GP from the local health authority in order to get our son referred to hospital to see a specialist. Might be worth a try to get a 2nd opinion

I guess I should try this approach, thank you

Stigmundfreud said:

have you considered adhd?

I don't think that is the case but I am no healthcare professional. And whilst I would rather she was normal to whatever that really is, to me something is not quite right. She is far more hyper and scatty for want of a better word than all her friends, who just seemed really laid back and calm next to her.

[Stigmundfreud]

had similar issues with my daughter, say it was mine it was the fiances. Took a look at her diet and changed it not radically but cut out all the st, even down to checking the sort of drinks she got. Found sugar free drinks far worse than sugar drinks - but certainly coke was a bad idea!

[jessica]

Stigmundfreud said:

have you considered adhd?

this is a possibilty from some of your answers. Dyspraxia often is co morbid with other conditions.
my son has Aspergers syndrome and fine motor dyspraxia and ADHD.Plus some dyslexia.
self reffer via your GP to local community paediatrician...
good luck.

[Firkin D]

Stigmundfreud said:

had similar issues with my daughter, say it was mine it was the fiances. Took a look at her diet and changed it not radically but cut out all the st, even down to checking the sort of drinks she got. Found sugar free drinks far worse than sugar drinks - but certainly coke was a bad idea!

Not sure I can do much about her diet (really wish I could stubborn little madam!), she has limited food she will eat as it is. Most of it is what I call junk food, but she does not have coke/fizzy drinks.

She lives on nuggets, pizza, sausages, pasta, chips that sort of stuff. Refuses all veg but will eat some fruits like Raspberries, strawberries, apples etc thank god.

[Stigmundfreud]

Firkin D said:

Stigmundfreud said:

had similar issues with my daughter, say it was mine it was the fiances. Took a look at her diet and changed it not radically but cut out all the st, even down to checking the sort of drinks she got. Found sugar free drinks far worse than sugar drinks - but certainly coke was a bad idea!

Not sure I can do much about her diet (really wish I could stubborn little madam!), she has limited food she will eat as it is. Most of it is what I call junk food, but she does not have coke/fizzy drinks.

She lives on nuggets, pizza, sausages, pasta, chips that sort of stuff. Refuses all veg but will eat some fruits like Raspberries, strawberries, apples etc thank god.

who is the boss you or her, all of your symptoms have been linked to eating the st food you say she's eating! Tough love and all that but you're the boss not she;)

[A S P]

Be wary of what a lot of so-called professionals claim to know about Dispraxia. It's quite a recently considered condition, and their training simply might not cover it to the extent of current accepted practice. A lot still will not even take it completely serious unfortunately. Find a specialist in the correct field, an educational or learning difficulty specialsit will give a far more accurate assesment.

Good luck with it and it's worth pursuing if you think there's something there.