Is there any one with a child with Dyspraxia

Kylie - posted on 09/24/2011

Hi girls. It has taken me about two and a half years to admit that i do need other parents not just professionals to vent to. I have good days where my 41/2 yo tries really hard with her verbal dyspraxia and will practice her sounds and sentence structure homework, then she is so stubborn and resistant at times and it sends me into a panic internally. I worry about her everyday and how she will turn out verbally. Dyspraxia seems to be a disability of do the therapy and wait and see!, She sees a speech therapist and has had OT for 11/2 years. Her motor skills have improved greatly thanks to the OT and her willingness to teach me fun everyday ways of incorporating therapy. My biggest concern is her lack of cooperation during a speech session. She will often not talk at all or very little or will only participate in a non verbal way even though she is quite capable at home. All i want is for her to cooperate for one hour a fortnight!!! Does anyone have any suggestions on getting children to practise their speech? Has anyone tried any osteopathic/chiropractic treatments, fish oils with noticeable changes in speech or movement? I am willing to try anything to help my daughter. By the way i live in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Kylie

Kimberly - posted on 09/07/2011

Check out the Cherab Foundation. I just started my daughter on Nutriiveda last night so I don't have anything to report yet but read some of the things these parents are claiming this stuff has done for their kids. They also tout the Nordic Naturals 3-6-9 fish oil as working wonders. Best of luck.

Tanya - posted on 09/03/2011

HI
how are you ? I now what it feels like , hope you get the help you need for your son , there are support groups too on face book dyspraxia a friendly ear , add me as a friend & I will add you to support groups , take care Tanya Michelle Curtis

Beth - posted on 09/02/2011

Oh I found my site! I have been searching for months although it feels like a eternity. I have felt alone, Ladies Thank you for being on here. My son was diagnosed with ADHD in January and after further testing he was found to have ADHD with Dyspraxia & Sensory issues. I had already started pushing for OT for him in Pre-K at the end of last year and therapy was started this year. I put him in swim & soccer to work on his motor skill issues and it has helped oh so little this far. I am searching for answers, if there are any, on what more can I do! His Dr's have told me I'm doing everything I should be doing but I feel like I need to do more. I'm so glad I am not alone and neither are you. Suggestions greatly appreciated. We have major writing, cutting, buttons, snaps and soiling issues. (As well as behavioral) He's sweet as can be and just started Kindergarten. Help!

Tanya - posted on 05/11/2011

Finally my 2 boys assessments have been carried out , the OT came to my house & told me both boys are dyspraxic & my younger son is alos autistic as my self & my husband & my family have seen what he is like his OT has seen alot of autistic traits in him as has CAHMS & he is now under a physio therapist she says he has short hamstrings & his ankle joints are very tight too , I have been given knives & forks for children with dypraxia to help them cut they found it hard at first last night , but hopefully they will get the hang of it , their OT is going to start in June a 6 week writing plan with my boys , also she is going to speak to the teachers to get things put in place for my boys ,I feel a huge relief , I knew something was wrong with my boys , it is nice to finally get a diagnosis.

Tanya - posted on 08/19/2010

Thank you Melanie & Dawn
You have both been very helpful , I do not know where to turn live with Justin is very interesting , 1 day is never the same , he does not like loud noise but when he talks he shouts , he does not like bright lights , he has speech problems , he does not like his routine changed that much as it effects his behaviour , he a typical tb returned & he has not long finished the 6 month medication , he may need an operation to remove the core so it does not come back & to top it all off his eye sight is deterioiating he has an eye test at the hospital eye clinic next week & I will find out if his eye sight has deteioriated any more .But I love my son very much , he has the lovliest of smiles & always says mammy , I love you . Thank you so much Dawn & Melanie , your comments were very helpful , I am grateful to both of you , your comments are very appreciated . Tanya

Melanie - posted on 08/19/2010

Kerri-Ann has huge problems with soiling and has to take laxatives to help her go...it's a nightmare getting the dosage right too-too much and she explodes but not enough and she doesn't go at all..try the backward chaining method for getting dressed/undressed it really does work. Also speak to school if they are getting annoyed with your son..they HAVE to make reasonable adjustments and remind them that if they get cross with him he will get flustered and it will take him twice as long again. THe assessment itself is fairly straightforward..they will give him various gross and fine motor tasks to do and he will be given a grade according to how successful he is in each task-they also look for differences in parts of the test as well. By the end they should be able to tell you not only if he may have Dyspraxia (although many professionals will not give a definate disgnosis before the age of 8 as some children show symptoms but grow out of them) but also which parts of his development are most affected...for Kerri-Ann it's her processing and planning skills which makes life interesting at times!!! You may also find if you are in the uk that he qualifies for DLA particularly with the soiling issues.Feel free to message me if you want to talk more.

Dawn - posted on 08/19/2010

hi hunni i have been on this road with my son who is 13 now , i can assure u it does gt better , u need to try get him assessed asap as the school needs to be more aware as to his needs , my son used to do all off the above when he first started school the pe issue they have to give him a bit longer to gt himself dressed and undressed , you can also by pemcils which have grips on the they are shaped in a triangle for them to hold more easly , his weak muscle tone in his wrists is why he struggles to hold a pencil , the assesment itself will be a lot of gross moter skills fine moter skills obstcal course with a spacial awareness and the ect its not that bad really , always make sure you are one step ahead when he starts school , its a long road hunni but he will b ok . my son has learned to manage and to do things in his own way , and is now a typical teenager lol good luck and if you need me i am here xxx

Tanya - posted on 08/19/2010

Hi

My son is 5 , he will be 6 in November , he is going to be assessed for dyspraxia , he has real problems writing , drawing & getting dressed & undressed , school teachers get frustrated at PE time as Justin struggles getting undressed then dressed, they say you are old enough to be getting dressed & undressed by yourself as you will be going into year 1 soon. He gets really frustrated , he has speech therapy & they are going to be assessing him for dyspraxia , Justin also has problems with his bowels , he soils himself alot , even though he poo's in the toilet, would love more advice , I know there is a dyspraxia , web site & I have visited this site a few times , my GP is 99% sure he has dyspraxia .

I would love to get in touch with other mothers to tell me what happens in the assessment process ,thanks Tanya

Melanie - posted on 08/18/2010

My 12 year old daughter has dyspraxia and so do I so I can understand a little of what you are going through!!!! My daughter's school (at my insistance) have finally made her a visual copy of her timetable with pictures as well as words which helps her no end with finding her way around school. I also did her a book list with symbols from clip art so she could see which books she needed to take with her each day. We also have a problem with homework...the lessons where she has support are fine because the support worker writes down her homework in her diary for her...left to her own devices she never remembers although some teachers now email a description of her homework to me so I can remind her...although that doesn't help when she forgets to bring the books home with her!!!!
Another useful tip is for helping a dyspraxic child to dress themselves and involves a method called backward chaining. It basically means that you encourage the child (or do it yourself if needs be) to lay out their clothes in the order they need to put them on so a jumper would be at the bottom and underwear at the top..also make sure that they are laid down so that your child can simply pick them up and put them straight on without having to think if they are back to front or inside out as many dyspraxic children have difficulties working this out.; Shoes can be labelled on the inside with an 'r' and an 'l' to help identify which foot they should go on. If they struggle to remember which hand is which ( many do) then encourage them to make an L chape with their thumb and forefinger....if you do this with your right hand it comes out back to front (try it yourself..it really works!!!!) DOn't be afraid to keep on the school's back about written work or ask if he can use a laptop or desktop pc-especially for homework which can then be printed out. My daughter does that an awful lot when she doesn't have work sheets to fill in as it is so much easier for her. You can also try hand exercises using therapy putty..this comes in different grades from easy through to hard and helps the child to 'warm up' their hands ready to start fine motor tasks and really works. For a child that has difficulty concentrating try 'heavy work' eg press ups against a wall or chair before they go to school to help get their senses to work together properly..might sound amd but again it really works!!! Above all be patient with him but equally don't allow him to use his difficulties as an excuse to avoid doing certain things he finds difficult. Hope this helps but feel free to message me if you want to.

Dawn - posted on 07/06/2010

hi my son is nearly 13 and is dyspraxic , he is just into his second year at secondery school , life has been hard all through primary school but as long as you are 1 step ahead of the school ect thats they way i do it , but i know what its like you just feel like all you do is fight , but never give up , my james has learned to cope and do things his own way ut still struggles a lot he has now been offered an alfasmart at school for most of his written work , as you will find that he will b soooooooooooooooo tierd after subjects that have a lot of writing ie english , historey moderen studies that sort of thing if you go online to the dyspraxia web site that will give you lost of info to good luck if you need to talk i am here xx dawn

Pattie - posted on 07/05/2010

I have a daughter (6) with moderate-to-severe apraxia and a sone (2) with mild apraxia. It's rough, but there are many shining moments!

You can read about our battles with apraxia here:
http://TheirWordsTheirWay.blogspot.com

Pattie