How Dyspraxia Affects Learning

Dyspraxia is a disorder associated with the area of motor skill development. Dyspraxia is a life-long condition that occurs in about two percent of the general population. About 70 percent of dyspraxia sufferers are male. It is very possible that those with this disorder will learn to succeed and function independently. But it is important that they be provided with alternate learning methods that include repeated practice. Successful advancement will also require physical and speech therapy.

Symptoms

Dyspraxia means that movement and coordination are affected. The main problem is that messages from the brain are not being reliably transmitted to the body. So in reality, dyspraxia does not directly change intelligence. It does, however, affect learning ability. So in this way, dyspraxia does create a "learning disability." The condition can lead to a full spectrum of problems with language, perception and thought.

Surprisingly, there is no known cause for dyspraxia in the majority of cases. The most up-to-date research indicates that the problem may lie with immature neuron development in the brain. This possibility runs counter to earlier belief that it was related to brain damage. No specific neurological abnormality has been found that would explain the presence of dyspraxia. The number of children with dyspraxia is believed to represent anywhere from two to ten percent of the population.

The first symptoms of dyspraxia become evident when physical milestones are not reached at expected times. For example, most children learn to roll over, sit, crawl, stand and walk within a range of certain ages. Children with dyspraxia often do not reach these milestones when expected (and may not reach them at all). Physical movements are difficult in a variety of ways.

Learning Disabilities and Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia appears to hinder thought processes as well. Individuals with this condition have trouble planning and organising their thoughts. They are often unable to understand logic or reason.

Many of the learning disabilities that children with dyspraxia face are linked with embarrassment related to their physical disability. School age children with this disorder suffer from poor coordination, which limits their ability to participate in sports.

They often have immature speech that is both slow and difficult to understand. Even the most basic school age skills are difficult to master. Printing, playing ball, tying shoes, even assembling puzzles are all activities that seem to highlight their dyspraxia. Instead of progress and accomplishment, these tasks that are so easy for others are quite upsetting for the child with dyspraxia. This leads to social awkwardness and a growing unwillingness to even attempt any sort of social interaction.

Students with dyspraxia can be included in mainstream school situations. However, they will perform best when taught in one-to-one situations. Most children with this disorder try to avoid joining in with others, so group activities and situations will need to be handled with care. To the child with dyspraxia, all stimuli deserve a reaction without discrimination. Attention span is very poor.

It is critical for parents and teachers to share information and work collaboratively to deliver appropriate education services to the child with dyspraxia. Parents will be able to report on situations at home which are difficult for their child. In the same way, teachers can observe a child's progress and compare it to other children in the class. Together, they can structure a way of teaching that will allow the child with dyspraxia to achieve their full potential.