Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a neurological condition that affects movement and coordination in extreme cases. In its milder form, it affects areas of thought. Typically, individuals with dyspraxia face difficulties with planning, executing and sequencing both thoughts and movements. It is often misunderstood and overlooked, yet its impact can be significant, especially in the academic realm for teenagers. Understanding the signs, symptoms, and implications of dyspraxia is crucial for parents to provide proper support and guidance to their children. Dyspraxia is said to affect between 5% to 15% of all teens. It is far more common than we realize. Once identified accurately, and the correct type of intervention is provided, there is no reason for these individuals to not be able to achieve academic excellence alongside their peers. Dyspraxia falls under the umbrella term of specific learning difficulties. Individuals with it, often have average to above average IQs.
One of the hallmark features of dyspraxia is difficulty with motor coordination. This may manifest in tasks such as tying shoelaces, using utensils, or participating in sports. For instance, a teenager with dyspraxia may struggle with activities requiring precise hand-eye coordination, like catching a ball or writing neatly. Sometimes the handwriting difficulties are labelled as dysgraphia.
Dyspraxia often affects fine motor skills, making tasks like handwriting, typing, using chopsticks and other cutlery, or buttoning clothes challenging. Teenagers with dyspraxia might have trouble holding a pencil correctly, resulting in illegible handwriting or slow writing speed. These individuals will find copying from the board extremely challenging and will often fail to complete the copying tasks. Letter formation may be poor, and pencil grip may look peculiar. This is how the condition is masked. As a result, there may also be signs of an extreme lack of interest in tasks involving fine motor skills.
Maintaining balance and understanding spatial relationships can be problematic for individuals with dyspraxia. They may appear clumsy or unsteady, frequently bumping into objects or having difficulty navigating crowded spaces. The more common symptoms that parents notice are how easily they get lost, even in a shopping mall that they are familiar with. These teens may find it challenging to give and remember directions, too. This may lead to them feeling isolated and avoiding going out.
Dyspraxia can impact cognitive functions related to planning and organization. Teenagers with dyspraxia may struggle to plan and execute tasks sequentially. They can plan and execute tasks and thoughts, but the process is slow and laborious. This creates a chain reaction, leading to disorganization and difficulty managing time effectively. Academic work in secondary school demands a high level of organization and clarity of thought. Tasks such as planning essays, note-making, and note-taking become a huge challenge, leading to academic failure. Being unable to manage time translates to incomplete exam answers and, thus, a decline in grades.
While not common across the board, many individuals with dyspraxia experience sensory sensitivities, such as heightened sensitivity to noise, light, or textures. Other students talking while the teacher is teaching will be a huge struggle in the classroom environment. These sensitivities can be overwhelming and may interfere with concentration and learning in academic settings. In social settings, the chatter of multiple people taking place around them may make it difficult to stay focused on what is being said to them directly, making seem inattentive or lacking concentration. Others can perceive this as rudeness or being ill-mannered.
Dyspraxia poses unique challenges in academic settings, which can significantly impact a teenager’s learning experience and academic performance.
Dyspraxia often affects handwriting, making it difficult for teenagers to produce legible and organized written work. This can hinder note-taking during lectures and result in incomplete or messy notes, making it harder for students to study, retain information, and facilitate recall.
Due to difficulties with motor coordination and planning, teenagers with dyspraxia may take longer to process and complete tasks. This slow processing speed can be particularly problematic during timed exams or assignments, where students may struggle to finish within the allotted time. They will also experience extreme mental fatigue and stress.
Tasks that require visual-spatial skills, such as geometry or map reading, can be challenging for teenagers with dyspraxia. Difficulty understanding spatial relationships. Visualizing or seeing the “bigger picture” concepts may hinder their ability to grasp certain academic subjects. Analytical skills will tend to be underdeveloped as a result of these challenges. The ability to problem solve logically will also be in deficit.
Dyspraxia often coexists with difficulties in executive functioning, including organization, time management, and task prioritization. These challenges can lead to missed deadlines, forgotten assignments, and overall academic disorganization. Further to this, confusion and total chaos take over, leading to lots of feelings of negative self-worth and poor peer and parental relationships.
Academic struggles associated with dyspraxia can take a toll on teenagers’ self-esteem and confidence. Feeling unable to keep up with peers academically or being singled out due to coordination difficulties can lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and isolation. Depression and anxiety attacks can occur. Bullying is also another result of having dyspraxia. The inability to plan thoughts and defend themselves verbally can also lead to negative emotions such as helplessness and defeat. On the extreme, some teens will become physically abusive and destructive.
Dyspraxia is a complex developmental disorder that presents challenges in various aspects of a teenager’s life, including academic learning. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of dyspraxia is crucial for parents to provide the necessary support and accommodations to help their children thrive academically and emotionally. A thorough and in-depth cognitive psychometric assessment and testing help shed light on the specific facets of the difficulties faced. Proper intervention and accommodations’ can then be implemented to make life easier and more manageable. By understanding the unique needs of teenagers with dyspraxia, parents can advocate for appropriate interventions and foster an environment that promotes success and resilience.
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Special Education Centre for Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Learning Difficulties Assessments & Intervention.
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