Defining Dyspraxia
Definitions
Have you ever noticed that there a lots of definitions for the word Dyspraxia? And that each definition has its own slant on it? In other words dependant on where the definition is coming some aspects of dyspraxia are highlighted whilst others are ignored. Some definitions focus purely on the physical aspects whilst ignoring the mental side which in my opinion is dangerous giving the impression that dyspraxia is simply a physical issue, whereas if you are living with dyspraxia you know that it is a holistic problem. In other words it affects all aspects of your health and wellbeing. Dyspraxia is a neurological condition of course it is, but the brain is central to the rest of the human body therefore it cannot be separated. And some definitions give the impression that Dyspraxia is simply a childhood condition that evaporates once a child hits 16, again this is not helpful, especially when you want to enable your family and friends to better understand Dyspraxia
Below are some of definitions of Dyspraxia that grind my gears...
A developmental disorder of the brain in childhood causing difficulty in activities requiring coordination and movement
This definition is bare minimal and gives the impression its simply a problem in childhood. Yes Dyspraxia affects movement and coordination but as I said before we Dyspraxics know it is so much more then that.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=_pdyXPOZJpL8kwW-tai4DA&q=dyspraxia+definition&oq=defintions+of+dyspr&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i22i10i30.174938.185325..187173...1.0..1.927.5528.0j11j4j2j1j0j2......0....1..gws-wiz.....0..0i131j0j35i39j0i10j0i13j0i13i30j0i13i10i30.sgwt1p8wLho
Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, is a condition affecting physical co-ordination that causes a child to perform less well than expected in daily activities for his or her age, and appear to move clumsily.
This definition is taken from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/developmental-coordination-disorder-dyspraxia/, (2017)
It is a much better definition then the previous one because it goes into a little more detail as to what Dyspraxia means, however, it doesn't mention how it affects you mentally and gives the impression that it is a childhood condition.
Better definitions
I decided to do some research to see if I could find some definitions of Dyspraxia that explain it fully and also find definitions that do not give the impression that it is a condition that you grow out of.
According to https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/conditions/dyspraxia, (2018) Dyspraxia is ;
Dyspraxia is a neurological disorder that affects fine and gross motor skills, memory, judgment, perception, information processing, and other cognitive abilities. Although dyspraxia is not a medical condition, it can also affect the immune and nervous systems. The most common form of dyspraxia is developmental coordination disorder, and the terms are often used interchangeably. Because it can affect so many different areas of the brain and body, dyspraxia takes different forms in different people. Dyspraxia is recognized in early childhood, continues into adulthood, and though it can be a singular condition, it often coexists with other disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, dyslexia and autism.
My second favourite definition was provided by the Dyspraxia Foundation https://dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/about-dyspraxia/ (2019);
Dyspraxia, a form of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a common disorder affecting fine and/or gross motor coordination in children and adults. It may also affect speech. DCD is a lifelong condition, formally recognised by international organisations including the World Health Organisation. DCD is distinct from other motor disorders such as cerebral palsy and stroke, and occurs across the range of intellectual abilities. Individuals may vary in how their difficulties present: these may change over time depending on environmental demands and life experiences.
There are 4 good points to consider when looking at this definition;
1 It recognises that it affects adults as well as children.
2 It recognises that Dyspraxia has an impact on intellectual abilities
3 It acknowledges no two individuals living with dyspraxia are the same as it varies from person to person.
4 It acknowledges that environmental demands and life experiences have an impact on how a Dyspraxic is affected by Dyspraxia.
On understanding...
The truth is this the experts on Dyspraxia are not psychologists, parents of Dyspraxic children or even the Dyspraxia foundation. Psychologists understanding is book knowledge they do not fully compute on how Dyspraxia affects you. Parents of Dyspraxic Children only see the physical aspects of Dyspraxia whats going on for their inwardly is harder to express and understand. So their understanding is limited to what they see and their perception of what their child is going through. Just like no two people are the same no two Dyspraxics are the same. Parents of Dyspraxic children would only truly understand Dyspraxia if they themselves were Dyspraxic, saying that they may not fully gauge how different their Dyspraxia is when compared to their child's. So they cant really claim to be experts. It's like if I was to say to you, I know what it is to be a man, my dads a man. Based on my dad's behaviours I can say all men have to be responsible and protective over their wives and children, all men shave and all men are carers. What a load of rubbish! First of all one man does not represent all men and secondly these are behaviours are physical things that I have seen. I have no idea what it means to be a man because I'm a women! My knowledge, though I see some aspects of manhood is limited to just what ive seen in my dad. It's the same with parents of Dyspraxic children their knowledge is limited to what parents see and what they assume their child is feeling and thinking. The Dyspraxia Foundation is a charity that has been going for thirty years and is the only charity in the UK that helps people with Dyspraxia. However, my argument is this, unless those running the Dyspraxia Foundation are also Dyspraxic, how can they truly grasp what it means to be living with this condition?
We may not be able to fully explain and express how Dyspraxia affects us to those around us but perhaps we can help them to better understand by finding a definition that falls more closely in line with us. A definition that looks at all aspects of Dyspraxia, whilst acknowledging differences and realising that Dyspraxia does not simply disappear once you reach adulthood. We are the experts on our own type of Dyspraxia, it is upto us to do our best to explain what it is and how it affects us. I acknowledge this isn't always easy but if we want society as a whole to better understand Dyspraxia we need to start talking about it and reach out to friends and family.
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