September 5, 2006
dyspraxic awareness week
This week is Dyspraxic Awareness Week.
Up to 10% of the population is diagnosed with Dyspraxia.
My eldest son, now 5, was diagnosed with Developemental Verbal Dyspraxia and ‘Physical’ Dyspraxia over 3 years ago.
There are many wonderful websites that can tell you what it is, and what can be done to help. But the one thing that can’t be learnt by reading a book or website, is how every day and everyday things can be a challenge for a child with Dyspraxia. And how, as a parent, it can break you heart.
Imagine that your 4 year old child can’t lick an icecream.
Imagine that your 3 year old child calls you by a different name reguarly, but they are really trying to say ‘Mummy’ every time.
Imagine that your 2 year old has to learn sign language to be able to say that they love you, or that they were upset, (learning to sign was an extremely possitive experience and helped him greatly).
Imagine that your child could not tell you in the middle of the night what their scarry dreams were about because they were so tired the words would not come out.
Imagine that your 4 year old gets into trouble at kindy because they SHOUT almost all the time, but all they’re doing is trying to communicate like the other kids.
Imagine that by the time your 5 year old has gotten the crayons, paper and sat at the table, the other kids in class have finished and are doing the next thing.
Imagine that any sudden change of routine can throw your child out, (more than another child their age).
Imagine that your child can put on their shoes and pull on their pants on that day, but not the next.
Imagine that your child has very high frustration levels, gets over tired from trying so hard all the time and can have extreme anxiety.
These are just a few drops in a lake of ‘imagines’.
Right now, after years of therapy, I don’t need to imagine this…
My son does not sign anymore, he can talk so he is understood 95% of the time by most people, he can put his own shoes on every day, he is an important and valued classmate, his teachers adore him, he is learning at the same rate as his classmates, he comes 3rd or 4th is running races, he can ride a bike, he can tell me when he’s upset and why, his confidence with his writing and problem solving has improved in the last 2 months, he can participate in a swimming class and he makes the best catapaults with playdough and spoons.
September 5th, 2006 at 8:39 am
[…] Australian National Dyspraxia Awareness Week runs from September 1st to September 8th 2006. You can read Meredith’s post about Davis and his journey with Dyspraxia, visit the Australian Dyspraxia Association website or these links for more information. […]
December 11th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
I just want to say what a relief it is to find your post. As a mother of a 2 year old who has suspected dyspraxia I have been trawling the internet to try and find any information on the condition. There was no light at the end of the tunnel until I read your post so thank you!
April 8th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Hi, it was great to read your story. My son is 3 and a half and he has severe verbal dyspraxia. He is becoming more and more frustrated and hyperactive. It is really upsetting. Good to know that they can be ok in the end. Thanks
July 4th, 2008 at 10:33 am
My daughter is now 8 and has sever verbal dyspraxia and motor dyspraxia.I thought that she would one day talk as I have other dyspraxic children talk, I now wonder if she will ever hold a conversation past using 4 or more words at a time.