Processing speed can be a very frustrating aspect of dyslexia and dyspraxia. It doesn't have its own DSM diagnosis code and in truth, processing speed in the context of dyslexia and or dyspraxia have very different sources. Some people think that it doesn't matter...
Dyspraxia More than Dyslexia [Premium]
Dyslexia is known for its high co-occurrence with other neurodevelopmental conditions. Numerous studies have documented the high overlap (for review of the literature visit Brimo et al., 2021), but be aware that the literature is messy with different definitions of dyslexia and dyspraxia (sometimes referred to as developmental coordination disorder or DCD). A large percentage – 25-40% – of dyslexic individuals also have a neurodevelopmental conditions such as dypraxia (motor difficulty), ADD, or dyscalculia. Interestingly, the presence of dyslexia is negatively correlated with autism spectrum-related inflexibility, a finding supportive of the hypothesis of Williams and Casanova (2010) which suggested that dyslexia and autism may have opposite features based on cortical structures. The focus of this article is dyspraxia in the context of dyslexia. Even when […]
Florence Welch + The Machine Singer-Songwriter [Premium]
“Being a creative person and getting older, and wiser, has been an awakening. The older I get, the more self-assured I feel and the more confident I feel in my work and in life.” — Florence Welch Florence Welch is an English singer-songwriter who writes and sings songs that are steeped in folklore and fantasy imagery. She has spoken both about her dyslexia and dyspraxia in various interviews. Florence became a pop star at the age of 21 when she was discovered singing in a club bathroom. She would go on to have Grammy nominations and platinum records, but also had some tumultuous times with heartbreak. One of her breakthrough songs was Ship to Wreck (lyrics), after the breakup of a long term relationship. […]
If Your Student Can’t Write [Premium]
If your student can’t write, no matter what age – prepare yourself for the long haul because so much of schooling and even many aspects of hiring and work can require writing. When writing is difficult for students with dyslexia, it may be that they are having difficulty converting feelings and images to words, trouble retrieving words, or putting them in the correct order, then writing them down with correct spelling and grammar. A significant proportion of dyslexic students will also have dyspraxia, so have trouble with sequencing and fine motor control required for handwriting automaticity. Any added difficulties may also swamp working memory, causing students to get lost in what they want to say. For many dyslexic people, dysgraphia will present a greater problem […]
[PREMIUM] Big Picture and Dyspraxia
The good news about dyspraxia is that there are many positive strategies that can significantly improve functioning. #1. SELF-AWARENESS – Self-awareness is the most important tool of children and adults with dyspraxia. There are many everyday classroom and real world tasks that can be extremely difficult or even impossible for a person with dyspraxia. Without being aware that something being asked of you is impossible, it’s easy to slide into negative thinking and self-deprecating behaviors which can pull you away from things that could actually help, like self-advocacy, technology, or training. #2. COORDINATION AND STRENGTH TRAINING – Coordination and motor strength are highly trainable, so it’s important to recognize that there’s a lot one can do to improve symptoms of dyspraxia. A common mistake is […]
[PREMIUM] Dyspraxia and Independence
Dyspraxia (DCD) has its impact in childhood, but recently researchers have been looking more into the challenges that young adults face in higher education, general life skills, and the workplace. Dr. Amanda Kirby, who we interviewed in the last issue, did her thesis work in the area of 16-25 year olds with dyspraxia. Based on her interviews for the project, over half reported some ongoing difficulties whether it was learning to drive a car, writing by hand, or organizing their household. From our perspective, the information should be seen as helpful information that recognizes extra challenges that a young person with dyspraxia might face as well as the benefits of extra supports as this young person heads into full adulthood and independence. Some Findings re: […]
Additional Resources from Premium Issue 26 [Premium]
Additional Premium Resources February 2018 Issue 26. You must be logged into your account to access: False Memories, Verbatim vs. Gist Recall, Persistence and Transcience of Memory, and Visual Perceptual and Handwriting Skills of Student with Dyspraxia (DCD). False memory for orthographically vs semantically similar words in adolescents with dyslexia. Verbatim and Gist Recall of Sentences by Dyslexia and Non-Dyslexic Adults The Persistence and Transience of Memory Visual perceptual and Handwriting Skills in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder