some of these activities and doesn’t
look to improve or master the skill,
parents have an immediate flag that
can be followed with an assessment.
By the time a child is at school,
signs of DCD can become more
noticeable. Poor handwriting skills
are an indicator, and trouble grasping
a pencil with the pincer grip can
be an alert to look out for other
developmental difficulties.
Dealing with DCD
While the thought of your child
suffering from any difficulties,
including DCD, can be stressful, DCD
can be tackled and managed with the
right care. Following an assessment
to highlight specific delays, therapy
offers practical steps that children can
learn and practise to improve daily
skills needed at home, school and
play. A speech therapist will work on
language skills as necessary. As with
any doctor, all sessions with a therapist
are confidential.
Expect to let your child take the
lead. Studies show good results from
programmes that work with a child’s
goals, rather than just parents’. A
presentation given by the Hong Kong
Occupational Therapy Association
suggests that a parent should accept
it if his child’s goal is to practise
basketball rather than handwriting.
As a compromise, however, the child
could also write about basketball
players.
Tasks that are of interest to your
child stimulate his focus and encourage
practise for a more involved treatment.
But, because learning difficulties
may present before or during a task,
a therapist will chart your child’s
approach to the task and concentration
on it, rather than mastery.
Traditional after-school activities
may have to be rethought. Children
with DCD can struggle with physical
activities, especially those requiring
lots of sequencing and passing, but
research shows that certain sports can
help those with DCD-related learning
challenges. One study by Dr Siu Ming
Fong, a sports science specialist at
Hong Kong University, found that
tae kwon do improved balance and
sensory organisation. Yoga and dance
have also been found to be helpful.
Sharon Haarsma is working on
developing after-school programmes
specifically for kids with DCD, because
often they can’t keep up with the
standard after-school sports sessions
on offer. “One thing we have noticed is
that… [standard] after-school activities
can be really hard for these little ones,”
she says, “and we think this is a big
shame.”
Early intervention, support and
practical exercises mean there are
definite avenues of improvement for
those with DCD. With the benefit of
assessment and intervention, many go
on to achieve in school, gain degrees
and play sports. One dyspraxia sufferer
in the UK says he transferred spatial
skills learned through dance to become
captain of his university’s basketball
team.
Getting started on the steps early
avoids a life of confusion for DCD
children who, without help, might
grow up thinking they are “just”
clumsy and disorganised.
Visit
.
org.uk to learn more. There, you’ll
find checklists on what to look for,
and a series of downloads on how
to treat and manage DCD.
June 2014
67
