Dyslexia and dyspraxia are two different concepts associated with learning and developmental disorders in children and, if not treated in a timely manner, in adults. Despite the fact that they are different disorders, they are often closely related. Sometimes they even say that dyspraxia (clumsy syndrome) is one facet of dyslexia. It is worth understanding the features of each pathological condition so that you know what to do if you see signs of these disorders.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a reading disorder characterized by difficulty in correctly recognizing and interpreting written symbols. Children have difficulty recognizing and distinguishing speech sounds, understanding words, and reading comprehension.
Dyslexia is not due to insufficient intelligence or little learning effort on the part of the child. It is a neurological disorder that can be corrected or alleviated with specific techniques and approaches. Early detection and treatment helps children with dyslexia overcome these difficulties and achieve success in learning and life.
The main signs of dyslexia
You can recognize the disorder by the following manifestations:
- Reading difficulties — slow tempo, missing or interchanging letters and words, difficulties with reading comprehension.
- Problems with spelling and spelling — difficulty spelling words correctly, spelling errors, confusion between similar words.
- Difficulties with phonetic awareness — difficulties in recognizing and distinguishing speech sounds, which makes it difficult to associate sounds with written symbols and vice versa (it is difficult to write from dictation).
- Loss of orientation on the page — children with dyslexia may lose space on the page when reading, jumping over lines.
- Memory problems — with remembering facts, dates, names, and other information.
- Difficulties with organization and planning — problems with organizing thoughts and structuring written text, difficulties with composing coherent stories and essays.
- Emotional difficulties — low self-esteem, feelings of insecurity, stress associated with problems in reading and writing.
The symptomatology may appear individually in each child, but in any case, when signs of dyslexia are identified, you should consult a specialist. As a rule, the disorder is successfully corrected using special techniques.
What is dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder, or "clumsy" syndrome) is a neurological disorder that affects the ability to control body movements. Children have difficulty performing precise and complex movements, hand and foot coordination, balance, and orientation in space.
Dyspraxia is a chronic condition and usually manifests in childhood. It can significantly affect a child's life, making it difficult to perform daily tasks, academic demands, and participation in sports and social activities. Adults also suffer from dyspraxia if left untreated. These are the people who have everything falling out of their hands, they constantly stumble on the level ground, attracting various failures to themselves.
Symptoms and signs of dyspraxia
You can suspect dyspraxia if your child has these symptoms:
- Clumsy and unsure motor skills, manifested by an unusual gait, instability in movement, specific gestures, and difficulty performing simple tasks such as tying shoelaces or using appliances.
- Difficulties with fine motor skills, including problems with writing, drawing, using scissors, and other tasks that require precision and dexterity.
- Eye and hand coordination problems, which can make reading, writing, and other tasks difficult.
- Difficulties with balance and spatial orientation, frequent falls on a level place, stumbling.
- Negligence during meals, food falls out of cutlery, drinks are spilled.
- Difficulties with the planning and organization of movements, including problems with the sequence of actions when performing various tasks.
Manifestations of dyspraxia can vary from child to child depending on individual characteristics. Patients with this diagnosis often experience social difficulties because other children do not want to be friends with them due to their clumsiness.
Causes of dyslexia and dyspraxia
To date, the causes of the development of these neurological disorders have not been precisely established. It is believed that the mechanism of pathological manifestations is based on CNS abnormalities. Most often, it occurs due to cerebral hypoxia, as well as some infectious diseases and metabolic disorders. Possible causes include brain damage, genetic predisposition, improper formation of the connective tract.
Treatment of dyslexia and dyspraxia
Parents should be aware that these neurological disorders do not go away on their own with age, so a visit to the doctor when symptoms are detected should not be delayed. In the treatment of dyspraxia and dyslexia, a comprehensive approach is used, which includes medication therapy and physical therapy techniques, lessons with a speech therapist, the use of special educational programs, etc. Additionally, the child receives psychological support, which helps them cope with emotional difficulties. Equally important is the active participation of the parents.
At our clinic, doctors also focus their efforts on finding and eliminating the possible cause of these disorders. This allows recovery to be achieved more quickly and effectively. With the right therapy program, dyslexia and dyspraxia can be treated and corrected well. You must also understand that full recovery for dyslexia and dyspraxia takes time and patience.
