Dyspraxia and Developmental Coordination Disorder

Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a condition that affects motor skills and coordination.

What is Dyspraxia?

Dyspraxia, also referred to as developmental coordination disorder (DCD) by most healthcare professionals, is a condition that affects an individual's ability to balance and plan movements.

While it isn't considered a learning disability, the problems it can cause may affect learning skills within education and employment.

Signs of the condition can present themselves from an early age, and its rate of development varies between each individual. Due to this, each individual experiences dyspraxia differently, and the problems it causes may change with age.

There is no exact cause for the condition, but it is believed to involve issues with the signals in the brain that affect motor control. A family history of dyspraxia, being born with a low birth weight, or being born beofre the 37th week of pregnancy may increase the risk of a child developing DCD.

How Can Dyspraxia Affect You?

Dyspraxia symptoms can vary between each individual and can change from childhood to adulthood.

For children, early developmental milestones such as crawling and walking may be delayed. Their drawing, writing, and sports skills may also underperform for their age.

The condition may affect coordination and balance, trouble with fine motor skills and following instructions, and challenges with memory, emotions, and personal organisation skills.

For an adult, dyspraxia symptoms can affect both higher education and employment. It may be harder to learn new things or multitask. Walking may also be affected as well as the ability to perform everyday household activities.

What Services Can We Provide?

Neurological assessment

Neurodivergent expert clinicians

Equipment and environment adaptations

Education and support

Neuro Occupational Therapy For Dyspraxia

For those living with dyspraxia, neurological occupational therapy intervention that focuses on creating independence and managing symptoms is often the most common treatment.

At Krysalis, we can carry out assessments that will assess an individual's functional, cognitive, and motor skills across activities at home, school, or work. We know that providing treatment that is specific to need and ability can make all the difference.

We can help an individual find practical ways to perform everyday tasks, by providing adaptations with equipment or implementing new strategies.

We can educate families, employers, or schools on how to help an individual across their environments, as well as support an individual to understand their symptoms and how to manage them.

Our occupational therapists will be able to identify areas of daily life where there are difficulties, whether that's for a child struggling in a classroom, or an adult having issues with leisure activities, or anything in between.

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What others says

I am always so impressed by the therapist’s commitment to and ongoing understanding of Claire and her situation. I am sure the rest of the family will share my thoughts so please pass on our heartfelt thanks to the therapy team when you next see them. Sister of brain injury survivor
I just wanted to drop you a line to say, whenever I call the office, Claire, in particular, is always very charming and efficient. She is a good representative of your company and has a nice phone manner and a good approach to customer service. So, thank you Claire. Mother of brain injury survivor
The following will never be enough to illustrate Paul’s journey but we are eternally grateful to the NHS, IM, ILS, Krysalis and the whole infrastructure that has been created for Paul. Yes, Paul is focused, determined and driven but the whole team have created a rehabilitation environment that has changed our life and Pauls future, they have made the thought of life and rehabilitation, turn from the impossible to the possible. Brother of brain injured survivor
The thought of having the family undertake this journey alone seems impossible and we will be always grateful. We all recognise that James is still on the rehabilitation journey, but there is no stopping him. He has just walked to Mum’s & Dad’s on his own (phone first to say he’s on his way)... what a way to celebrate the 2-year journey.Brother of brain injured survivor
I highly recommend Krysalis Consultancy OT services. Anna has been our life line since she came on board to help my husband following his brain injury. He has improved greatly thanks to Anna’s input in assisting him to become independent, teaching him step by step the simple things which we all take for granted. Anna is there for us 100%, teaching us both strategies to enable us to achieve better results.Wife of brain injured survivor
Just a short note to thank you very much for your hard work and persistence over the last few months, your guidance has undoubtedly helped and taken the pressure off me (I have benefited from the sessions greatly). I am really encouraged by the last few weeks and optimistic that if Peter keeps working at it he will continue to make good progress.Brother of brain injured survivor

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