Re: Developmental Coordination Disorder or Dyspraxia

[Guest guest]

I think I have DCD though my doctor didn't say that. He he said that

my nervous system didn't mature and that the myelin covering on my

nerves didn't fully develop. Not sure if that's the same or not.

I'm very clumsy and have broken bones falling or running into things

quite a few times. Now that I KNOW it's neurological, though, I seem

to be compensating so it's been a while since I broke a bone. I told

my husband I thought I had dyspraxia because I'd been reading about

it and he said, " I'd like to have that confirmed by a doctor " so I

went to the neurologist. The neuro said that the problem I have is

similar to the clumsiness kids with asperger syndrome have and that

it isn't progressive, won't get any worse, and I should go home and

not worry about it. Still, he confirmed my suspicions and it was

something I could go home and tell my husband who has always been

frustrated by me not being able to find things and

being " inefficient " in terms of housework or completing tasks. Yeah

he has some asperger traits with OCD about neatness. It's can be a

terrible combination. I have ADD and this neuro stuff and he has

anxiety and OCD and very rigid thinking. Still, we've managed to

make this marriage work for 20 years. LOL.

Miriam

>

> Anybody want to share what books they found the most helpful for

> interventions both at home and school? I have a 14yo son with

> Asperger who is also moderate/severe DCD. Not many OTs seem to know

> how to help him.

>

> Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

>

> Ruth

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Ruth,

I saw this post but I am not sure what you are asking for. Most helpful interventions for what? You mention OT's so maybe you mean sensory problems?

RoxannaYou're UniqueJust like everyone else...

( ) Developmental Coordination Disorder or Dyspraxia

Anybody want to share what books they found the most helpful forinterventions both at home and school? I have a 14yo son withAsperger who is also moderate/severe DCD. Not many OTs seem to knowhow to help him. Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!Ruth

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[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Ruth,

> I saw this post but I am not sure what you are asking for. Most

helpful interventions for what? You mention OT's so maybe you mean

sensory problems?

Yes, he does have sensory problems, but I was thinking more of the

coordination piece. Not that you can really take it all apart, but

anyway... My son (14yo aspie) has moderate/severe delays in manual

dexterity, bilateral coordination, and left/right side coordination.

On the practical side of things, it causes him to not want to move

around in general, do things like sit and watch the others in his

science lab do the work and just write down the answer, avoid

organized sports of any kind, has a hard time with personal hygiene,

fixing himself meals, can't write a bike or tie his shoes (forgot how

again grrr!).

I've had an impossible time getting help for him. I couldn't find a

single OT in any of the places in our area that take insurance that

had even heard of DCD. I had to talk one into taking him for a few

weeks for specific things. He refused to take him any longer. It is

like all the rest of asperger--they say there is nothing really wrong

with him!

This OT was really helping him. He was doing things he has never done

before--combing his hair, tying his shoes (before he forgot how),

etc.--and the OT kept saying he didn't think he (himself, the OT) was

doing anything. He insisted he already knew these things and just

needed to make himself do it and practice. And he was the one that

dx'd all the delays!? I think maybe my son (this is the borderline

gifted one) maybe was just picking it up so fast that he gave the

appearance of already knowing. As you know, that happens with gifted

kids.

As far as I can tell, DCD is not very well understood. But I'm trying

to learn more, since my son has this pretty bad in addition to the

asperger, although I think it is sort of part of his asperger.

I did find a great online source which has a full-length, fairly

comprehensive online book you can read. I haven't got all the way

through it yet, but it is good so far. I'll post it if there is any

interest.

Anyway, what made me start thinking about this again is that the

school district is planning on pulling in an OT (and an SLP) for my

son's next 504 meeting, and I want to be as prepared as possible. And

I've just never found much on DCD to educate myself with. This seems

to be a very neglected area of Asperger. The school has been doing a

504 evaluation/observation for a grading period to think about, yet

again, whether they ought to be recommending him for a more detailed

special ed evaluation.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

My son does have DCD as one of his diagnoses; yes, I would be one

interested in the link that you spoke of, please. : )

> As far as I can tell, DCD is not very well understood. But I'm trying

> to learn more, since my son has this pretty bad in addition to the

> asperger, although I think it is sort of part of his asperger.

>

> I did find a great online source which has a full-length, fairly

> comprehensive online book you can read. I haven't got all the way

> through it yet, but it is good so far. I'll post it if there is any

> interest.

[Guest guest]

Here is the link to the good online book I was speaking of. You may

have to cut and paste the link in pieces since it is long.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/4363745/The-Adolescent-With-Developmental-CoOrdination\

-Disorder-DCD--Kirby

Enjoy!

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Thanks Ruth,

The link worked fine. I signed in and read the introductory

paragraphs... now the hard part: Finding time to continue

reading! ; ) It looks like it will be an interesting/helpful book on

DCD.

- Velvet

>

> Here is the link to the good online book I was speaking of. You may

> have to cut and paste the link in pieces since it is long.

>

> http://www.scribd.com/doc/4363745/The-Adolescent-With-Developmental-

CoOrdination-Disorder-DCD--Kirby

>

> Enjoy!

>

> Ruth

>

[Guest guest]

A couple of things helpful to our son with this disorder are Lock

Laces. These are a godsend after a lifetime of looking at untied shoe

laces with ends frayed off from being stepped. They really look so

cool, everyone in the family now wears them in all shoes.

The other thing that really helped our son was learning to play the

drums. We found his first and second drum sets at a pawn shop for

pretty cheap. It worked on hand/foot coordination, crossing the

mid-line, right and left hand coordination and relieved a lot of

stress...on him. Not on us, as we had to listen!

But, he was interested in music from the time he was little, this was

something he picked up on his own mostly. He had some lessons on drum

set, hand drums and eventually played cymbals in HS band, although he

never learned to read music.

He now plays drums in church.

I have found it interesting, he spends hours picking out songs on his

electronic keyboard. He can pick out a melody by ear, but always in a

minor key. It is like he hears all in his head that way. His tastes in

music are so eclectic, from German polkas to college fight songs to

60's oldies! What a funny kid, but glad that he loves music and

performing so much.

Sue in TN

[Guest guest]

My son too likes music...he has been playing the drums in school since 4th grade ...he is now in 7th. I don't think he will continue with band next year in school...but he still loves music and the sad thing is that he can read music and picks it up quickly...he had a few lessons on the electric guitar but didn't continue...I think it hurt his fingers and he is so sensitive. Plus he has a hard time staying interested or focused on any one thing except xbox.

Jan

Janice Rushen

"I will try to be open to all avenues of wisdom and hope"

From: carolynsuelowerychattanooga <sue@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Developmental Coordination Disorder or Dyspraxia Date: Monday, January 12, 2009, 11:31 AM

A couple of things helpful to our son with this disorder are LockLaces. These are a godsend after a lifetime of looking at untied shoelaces with ends frayed off from being stepped. They really look socool, everyone in the family now wears them in all shoes.The other thing that really helped our son was learning to play thedrums. We found his first and second drum sets at a pawn shop forpretty cheap. It worked on hand/foot coordination, crossing themid-line, right and left hand coordination and relieved a lot ofstress...on him. Not on us, as we had to listen! But, he was interested in music from the time he was little, this wassomething he picked up on his own mostly. He had some lessons on drumset, hand drums and eventually played cymbals in HS band, although henever learned to read music.He now plays drums in church.I have found it interesting, he spends hours picking out songs

on hiselectronic keyboard. He can pick out a melody by ear, but always in aminor key. It is like he hears all in his head that way. His tastes inmusic are so eclectic, from German polkas to college fight songs to60's oldies! What a funny kid, but glad that he loves music andperforming so much.Sue in TN