Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia is a term used to describe issues with gross and fine motor coordination. All children have different rates of development. However, the developmental delays in dyspraxia tend to remain and these children do not catch up significantly. These developmental delays can be identified in pre-school as well as school age children.

Visual problems are not the cause of dyspraxia. However, many people with dyspraxia have problems with their vision particularly in terms of accommodative facility. This is their ability to alter their focus from one distance to another.

Individuals with dyspraxia may have problems with general coordination such as bumping into things, being able to catch a ball, and using a keyboard. They may also have issues with handwriting.

However, they may also show a high level of performance in other areas such as language.

Some individuals with dyspraxia may have what are termed as ‘retained primitive retained reflexes’.

These are reflexes that we are born with and are there to guide our development.

The continued presence of primitive retained reflexes beyond the age of three can affect the development of higher level fine motor coordination skills.

Any significant primitive retained reflexes still present will require treatment in terms of following a programme involving specific body movements. Once this body movement programme is close to completion visually based activities can then be started.

There are some fundamental principles involved in every vision training programme. However, vision training is tailored to suit the individual. The success of any programme depends on us setting the programme up appropriately for you.

It also depends on the individual spending an appropriate amount of time and effort following the programme and practicing the activities as prescribed.