Dyspraxia is a disability linked with motor learning and can impact fine and gross motor skills. It also affects the planning ability as well as coordination. Though in some instances, memory, processing speed, and attention may also be affected. Two people will not present with the same set or the same intensity of symptoms, so every dyspraxia individual has different needs. One of the most helpful ways is to break down the task instructions into individual steps that will be more manageable. Tools such as agendas, calendars, and folders help a working adult stay organized and meet deadlines simultaneously.
In some cases writing by hand is painful. So, an individual should be encouraged to learn how to touch type. Dyspraxia is not for a few days or months but is a lifelong condition. Still, it has been seen that with the help of a strategy program in place and access to the right accommodations, most of the adults facing dyspraxia can overcome the challenges they face and ace their potential at school or work. This article will guide you through 5 things to know most about dyspraxia in adults. Let’s dive into these helpful details below.
One In Ten Adults Is Dyspraxia
Few estimates suggest that up to 10% of the population has Dyspraxia. It should also be noted that it is more often found in men than women, and researchers also suspect that there is a genetic component though no dyspraxia gene has been isolated yet. Dyspraxia is still not understood well by the general public, and is the chances of it being diagnosed are much less. This also means that working adults won’t be comfortable disclosing their disability to employees and feel a bit shy.
Known By Many Names
Though the term dyspraxia is very common to hear in the UK, it is not the same case in the US. In the US, it is known as Developmental Coordination Disorder(DCD). However, it was also known as Clumsy Child Syndrome, a term that is not used today.
A Mixture Of A Physical And Emotional Component
Many people know that dyspraxia causes people to experience frustration and stress, Which causes them to struggle in day-to-day tasks linked with coordination such as cooking, driving, or even getting dressed. They also face trouble participating in sports even if they want to participate.
It Can Impact Your Ability To Learn
Though dyspraxia is referred to as the motor learning disability, it also affects how an individual learns. This is because coordination difficulties make it quite difficult for the person to write it by hand, which may affect note-taking abilities, directly affecting performance on tests.
It May Co-Present With Other Specific Learning Difficulties
Dyspraxia is sometimes also identified alongside dyslexia. According to some reports, half of the dyslexic children show symptoms characteristic of dyspraxia. In a few cases, dyspraxia, along with attention difficulties, may also co-present, such as autism spectrum disorder(ASD) and dyspraxia.