Babies
Symptoms of dyspraxia can be seen at an early age. Babies:
- are irritable and may have feeding problems
- are slow to achieve developmental milestones
- often do not crawl, tend to 'bottom shuffle' and then walk
- avoid tasks which demand manual dexterity.
3 to 5 years old
If not identified, dyspraxia can affect a child’s school life causing increased frustration and lowered self-esteem.
Dyspraxic children often demonstrate some of the following types of behaviour:
- Inability to stay still (feet swinging, feet tapping, hand-clapping)
- Loud/shrill voice
- Temper tantrums
- Bumping into objects and falling over
- Flapping of hands when running
- Messy eating compared with children of a similar age. Often dispraxic children prefer to eat with their fingers and frequently spill drinks
- Avoid playing with jigsaws or building blocks
- Lack of imaginative and creative play
- Difficulty in holding a pencil or using scissors. Poor drawing skills compared with children of a similar age
- Rejected by peers, children may prefer adult company
- Increased enjoyment of sensory stimulation (loud noises, wearing new clothes)
- May be slow to respond and have problems with understanding of verbal instructions
- Tasks are often left unfinished due to reduced concentration
- Left or right handedness not fully established
- Language difficulties
7 years old
Problems in the dyspraxic child may include:
- Difficulties adapting to structured school routines
- Difficulties in Physical Education lessons compared with peers
- Generally slow at dressing, unable to tie shoe laces
- Difficulty co-ordinating the use of a knife and fork
- Poor handwriting
- Immature drawing skills
- Reduced concentration and listening skills
- Take language literally
- Slow at school work
- Easily distressed and emotional
- Inability to form relationships with peers
- Difficulty sleeping
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