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DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION DISORDER

DEFINITION
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also known as developmental motor coordination disorder, developmental dyspraxia or simply dyspraxia (from Ancient Greek praxis activity) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired coordination of physical movements as a result of brain messages not being accurately transmitted to the body. Deficits in fine or gross motor skills movements interfere with activities of daily living. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS 
*Clumsiness
*Slowness
*Inaccuracy of motor performance
*Sensory impairment
*Poor organisation 
*Poor balance
*Difficulty combining movements into a controlled sequence.
*Difficulty remembering the next movement in a sequence.
*Problems with spatial awareness, or proprioception.
*Trouble picking up and holding onto simple objects such as pencils, owing to poor muscle tone or proprioception.
*Difficulty in determining left from right.
*Cross-laterality, ambidexterity, and a shift in the preferred hand are also common in people with developmental coordination disorder.
*Problems with chewing foods.
*Difficulty sequencing sounds within a word, and
*Difficulty sequencing sounds forming words into sentences.
*Difficulty controlling breathing, suppressing salivation and phonation when talking or singing with lyrics.
*Slow language development.

DIAGNOSIS

Assessments for developmental coordination disorder typically require a developmental history,  detailing ages at which significant developmental milestones, such as crawling and walking, occurred Motor skills screening includes activities designed to indicate developmental coordination disorder, including balancing, physical sequencing, touch sensitivity, and variations on walking activities.

MANAGEMENT

# There is no cure for the condition. Instead, it is managed through therapy. Physical therapy or occupational therapy can help those living with the condition.

*Some people with the condition find it helpful to find alternative ways of carrying out tasks or organizing themselves, such as typing on a laptop instead of writing by hand, or using diaries and calendars to keep organized

Froala Editor

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