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Dyspraxia Children

These children are clumsy and awkward. They have particular problems with new motor skills and activities. They may have:
• very poor fine motor skills such as handwriting
• very poor gross motor skills such as kicking, catching, or throwing balls
• trouble imitating movements such as “Simon Says”
• trouble with balance, sequences of movements, and bilateral coordination

Dyspraxia Treatment

Sensory integration dysfunction is a neurological problem that affects behavior and learning. Medicine cannot cure the problem, but occupational therapy can address the child’s underlying problems in processing sensations. A good sensory treatment plan may be a major component in treating the child with SID. If a child is suspected of having a sensory integrative disorder, a qualified occupational or physical therapist can conduct an evaluation. Evaluation usually consists of both standardized testing and structured observations of responses to sensory stimulation, posture, balance, coordination, and eye movements. After carefully analyzing test results and other assessment data along with information from other professionals and parents, the therapist will recommend appropriate treatment.

If therapy is recommended, the child will be guided through activities that challenge the ability to respond appropriately to sensory input by making a successful, organized response. Training of specific skills is not usually the focus of this kind of therapy. Instead, adaptive physical education, movement education, and gymnastics are examples of services that typically focus on specific motor skills training. Such services are important, but they are not the same as therapy using a sensory integrative approach.

The motivation of the child plays a crucial role in the selection of the activities in a sensory integrative approach. Most children tend to seek out activities that provide the best sensory experiences at that particular point in their development. It is this active involvement and exploration that enables the child to become a more mature, efficient organizer of sensory information. The most important step in promoting sensory integration in children is to recognize that it exists and that it plays an important role in the development of a child. By learning more about sensory integration, parents, educators, and caregivers can provide an enriched environment that will foster healthy growth and maturation.

The goal of occupational therapy is to enable children to take part in the normal “job” of childhood, such as playing, enjoying school, eating, dressing, and sleeping—activities that are often a problem for children with SID. Each child is provided with an individualized treatment plan that directly involves parents. Occupational therapy usually takes place in a large, sensory-enriched gym with lots of swinging, spinning, tactile, visual, auditory, and taste opportunities.