Dyspraxia, also known as developmental co-ordination disorder, is a common disorder that affects movement and co-ordination.
People with dyspraxia may appear physically awkward and have difficulties with writing, typing, learning to drive a car and self-care tasks. They may also have difficulties with organisation and planning skills. For more information, see Dyspraxia in adults - symptoms.
Dyspraxia symptoms are normally present at a young age. For example, babies may take longer than expected to roll over, sit or speak. See the Health A-Z pages on Childhood dyspraxia for more information on the symptoms and diagnosis of dyspraxia in children.
For many people, dyspraxia continues into adulthood. These pages focus on dyspraxia in adults.
How common is dyspraxia?
Estimates vary, but dyspraxia is thought to affect up to 8 in 100 people in the UK. It is more common in men, and sometimes runs in families.
It is not known what causes dyspraxia, but there may be a link between dyspraxia and the following:
- being born prematurely (before week 37 of pregnancy)
- being born with a low birth weight
- having a family history of dyspraxia
Outlook
Dyspraxia does not affect intelligence, but it does affect learning ability. This means that adults with dyspraxia may need to develop coping strategies to find ways around difficult tasks. For example:
- choosing a job that involves using a computer in order to avoid writing by hand
- preferring solo sporting activities, such as swimming, to team games like football
There is no cure for dyspraxia, but a number of therapies can make it easier for the adult to cope with their problems. For example, occupational therapy can help adults find ways to remain independent and do everyday tasks.
