Dyspraxia, Can you help me ?

January 20th, 2009

I’m certain I have dyspraxia. A few years ago, my mum was reading an article about a dyspraxic child in the local paper. After reading, she handed me the papaer and said “This is exactly what you were like as a child.” I took your tick test and I ticked at least 30 boxes. I’m sure if I went over it again with someone close to me, I would btick a couple more. A couple of my symptoms wer highlighted by other people. For example, my sister and family kept telling me that I talk to loud and too much and sometimes say the wrong thing; my friend told me that I walk with no natural rhythm. I’m sure there’s more that I don’t know about. I went to the doctor a couple of months ago about a possible diagnosis, I mentioned some of my symptoms and he told me he would try adn find someone to refer me to. I still haven’t heard anything, so either he hasn’t taken me seriously (that’s happened before, with a different doctor) or there’s no-one in this area who can help me. PLease help me. I need an answer to why I’m different. I know I am, I know I’m not an idiot. Sometimes I feel inadequate, incompetent, worthless nd useless. I don’t know what else I can do. If I can get a diagnosis I will be able to get help and some understanding at work. I’m a waitress at a pie shop and sometimes I can’t quite get all the tasks done before closing time. My supervisor keeps asking me why I can’t do things everyone else can do, and I just say “I don’t know”. I don’t want to say “I’m dyspraxic” in case the doctor tells me I don’t have it and I’m just making things up.

Thanks for your email,

If you can tick most of the boxes then it is pretty certain that you’re dyspraxic. You need to see an occupational therapist for a complete diagnosis. So ask your doctor for a referral to one. It is thought that the cause of dyspraxia is something trauma that happens in a very narrow window 6 weeks either side of birth. If your mother can recall that happening then its very lightly that you are.

In my book on dyspraxia, which can only be bought downloadable, sorry but only costs $9 i think, i talk at length about why dyspraxics are how they are and what causes it etc. Also there are lots of suggestions for treating it, and although they usually work with children there is plenty of evidence that simple crawling, balancing and throwing etc activities also work with dyspraxic adults. So you should be doing these things with your mother.
Hope all goes well. cheers
dawn

Entry Filed under: Dyspraxia,General