What is Dyspraxia?

If you've spent time in the online neurodiversity community over the past few years, you've probably heard about dyspraxia. But how much do you know if you're one of those without it or know someone who is?

We don't frequently focus as much attention and resources on dyspraxia as we do other co-occurring conditions that can appear alongside dyslexia. There is a wealth of literature on the connections between dyslexia and autism, ADHD, and other 'dys-es.' Still, we don't often discuss the overlap between dyslexia and other 'dys-es'. Demystifying the other "dys-es" is the goal of this deep-dive series, and this time we're focusing on dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).

Current research implies that dyspraxia arises due to immature neuronal growth in the brain. However, it's not quite that straightforward; there are competing theories and points of view, just as there are for dyslexia or dyscalculia. According to a study conducted in the late 1990s, it is estimated that it affects about 6% of the general population, but this percentage soars to a staggering 52% in the dyslexic population.

Contrary to popular belief, girls are considerably more likely to go misdiagnosed or have their symptoms identified much later in their educational careers or adult lives. Boys were once assumed to have a higher prevalence of dyspraxia than girls, but recent research shows that girls are much more likely to go untreated.

Children and adults with dyspraxia experience fine and/or gross motor coordination difficulties. The World Health Organisation has publicly recognised it, affecting people of all ages, demographics, races, and IQ levels. Despite this, we frequently assume that it is a problem that only affects children. Although how it presents may change as people age and mature, dyspraxia can significantly impact how people approach everything from education and job to socialisation and leisure activities. Dyspraxia can affect people at any point in their life. Click here to learn about dyspraxia in adults and children.