Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a difficulty with thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory/motor tasks. The person with dyspraxia may have a combination of several problems in varying degrees.

These include :

  • poor posture and poor balance
  • poor motor co-ordination and sense of direction
  • difficulty with throwing catching a ball
  • poor awareness of body position in space
  • difficulty hopping, skipping or riding a bike
  • sensitive to touch
  • confused about which hand to use
  • find some clothes uncomfortable
  • difficulty with reading, writing
  • speech problems – late in learning to speak and speech may be incoherent
  • phobias or obsessive behaviour and impatient

Children with dyspraxia can be of average or above average intelligence but are often behaviourally immature. They try hard to fit in to socially accepted behaviour when at school but often throw tantrums when at home. They may find it difficult to understand logic and reason.

 

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is the result of a brain injury or a brain malformation affecting a person’s ability to move. It is a permanent life-long condition, but generally does not worsen over time. Individuals with Cerebral Palsy were most likely born with the condition, although some acquire it later.

Cerebral palsy affects people in different ways and can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance.

Muscles can contract too much, too little, or all at the same time. Limbs can be stiff and forced into painful, awkward positions. Fluctuating muscle contractions can make limbs tremble or shake.

An individual with Cerebral Palsy will likely show signs of physical impairment. However, the type of movement dysfunction, the location and number of limbs involved, as well as the extent of impairment, will vary from one individual to another. It can affect arms, legs, and even the face; it can affect one limb, several, or all.

Balance, posture, and coordination can also be affected by Cerebral Palsy. Tasks such as walking, sitting, or tying shoes may be difficult for some, while others might have difficulty grasping objects.

Other complications, such as intellectual impairment, seizures, and vision or hearing impairment also commonly accompany Cerebral Palsy.