Dyspraxia, a condition impacting motor skill development, strength, and coordination, might underlie your child’s challenges. While not classified as a learning disability (LD), dyspraxia often coexists with LD in many children.
Signs of Dyspraxia:
Children with dyspraxia may struggle with:
Gross Motor Skills:
- Maintaining a grip on objects.
- Navigating physical spaces without collisions.
- Balancing while moving.
- Mastering activities like walking, jumping, and skipping.
- Engaging in games requiring hand-eye coordination.
Symptoms of Developmental Dyspraxia:
Fine Motor Skills:
- Performing simple tasks like combing hair or waving goodbye.
- Holding and using pencils and crayons.
- Manipulating buttons, snaps, and zippers.
- Learning to tie shoelaces.
Speech: - Regulating voice volume, speed, and pitch.
- Coordinating mouth muscles and tongue for articulate speech.
Memory and Focus: - Recalling and executing multi-step tasks, such as making a bed.
Spatial Awareness:
- Positioning or relocating objects accurately, such as pieces in a game or puzzle.
If your child struggles with basic tasks like brushing teeth, knows the correct words but struggles with mouth coordination when speaking, and exhibits clumsiness or weak grip, these signs warrant a visit to a pediatrician. Early intervention can lead to better outcomes by identifying and addressing the child’s challenges promptly.