clumsy 5 year old having a assessment done? what the hell is that?!

[Deleted User]

I hope u will understand what I am saying here (no sleep so am semi comatose lol). Its likely that if there is any problem at all, it could be down to (as has been said) something as simple as an ear problem. To be honest, it doesn't really sound like he has dyspraxia.

But if your son does have something like Dyspraxia.., please please be very glad it has been spotted. In all honesty I wish my son's dyspraxia had been spotted when I tried to point out he was having problems and teachers in his case said nothing was wrong. If there is something he needs adiditional help with, it being spotted early will only help him. Its honestly nothing to worry about. Its when it gets missed, there's something to worry about!

pigpen

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Sorry to disagree, but it isn't less likely and it isn't just a physical problem. It affects concentration, memory, ability to organise and plan, writing, speech, imaginative play, comprehension and can cause hypersensitivities to such things as noise, which can make it impossible to cope in a classroom situation.

Dyspraxia is worryingly misunderstood. Children with this often drop out of education, develop physical symptoms of stress, can be lonely and isolated from their peers and the list goes on and on.

I know exactly what dyspraxia is, my son has the most awful problems.. and as a physical disability it is not one of the things schools look for, unles you'd like to argue with my sons educational psychologist.. because I did.. How can something which affects muscles not affect their written work for example.. but in the little categories it is under physical disability.. and its counterpart dyslexia is under educational.. if it doesn't affect their learning in the land of local authorities, they are not obliged to do anything. I can't even hug my son due to his tactile defensiveness so I know exactly how difficult it is, his speech is very poor he has absoluely no imagination at all.. fabulous in art lessons.. not!! He cannot kick a ball, tie his shoe laces, swim or ride a bike.. fine at 5.. but he is 14.

All of those other things you have listed are also indicative of dyslexia.. both being autistic spectrum disorders.. which my son also has a severe case of and would be picked up in a dyslexia assessment.. but they wouldn't be looking at that at this childs age. They are also not the actual problem but a product of the physical disability.. which means they are categorised differently.

Besides at 5 years of age there is probably absolutely nothing wrong that a couple of extra hours a week support cannot fix it doesn't have to be anything with a label it may just be he is developing in other areas faster than academic. Soemtimes they are just gifted in other areas.. he may be an absolute marvel at playing an instrument given the tuition.. at 5, 2 of mine didn't know letters or numbers or shapes and were not interested in learning them.. but by 7 they were at exactly the same place as their peers! We can't all be the same, and we all learn in different ways.

Gingham_Ribbon

pigpen wrote: »

I know exactly what dyspraxia is, my son has the most awful problems.. and as a physical disability it is not one of the things schools look for, unles you'd like to argue with my sons educational psychologist...

I dont' want to argue with anyone. I'm just saying that it's not just physical and it IS something that schools refer on to child services about.

the_rottweiler

While all posts are helpful, I feel that a lot of them will scare the op.

My son was 4 years old when our HV spotted that he was clumsy, had no balance, could not hold a pencil, and a few other small things, she got him referred and he was diagnosed with mild dyspraxia.

He had occupational therapy, which helped a lot and a little bit of support (not much though) through primary and junior school.

When he went to high school his handwriting was probably the level of a 6 year old and even though the teachers had no problem with the content of his work, it was just so hard to read.

Fortunately when he was 13 a new Senco started at the school and recommended a new programme of exercises called Primary Movements and Even though she had never tried the programme on a 13 year old, she thought it may help. Just 10 minutes of these exercises per evening and within 2 months the difference was amazing.

He was offered someone to transcribe his mock exam papers and they were not needed.
He is now doing his Exams and has been offered 10 mins extra because he still writes slowly.

He will never be a sportsman, or run a 3 minute mile, but he is a very intelligent 16 year old musician, who is sitting his AS levels this month while his peers are sitting their Gcse exams.

I realise that there are a lot more severe cases out there and we are lucky it wasn't worse, but I want the op to know that it does help having a diagnosis as then you can help your child be the best that he can, whatever the problem is

daska

pigpen wrote: »

it is not one of the things schools look for, unles you'd like to argue with my sons educational psychologist..

No intention of arguing with your son's education psychologist but my experience was that DS2 was tested for dyspraxia at 6 years old and then received 121 help in the classroom as well as 'jump start'(?). It may be one of those things that varies from school to area to specialist?

His previous teacher and his previous school had labelled him lazy - not helpful then and still impeding him now. So labelling was an incredibly positive outcome for him.

galvanizersbaby

daska wrote: »

No intention of arguing with your son's education psychologist but my experience was that DS2 was tested for dyspraxia at 6 years old and then received 121 help in the classroom as well as 'jump start'(?). It may be one of those things that varies from school to area to specialist?

His previous teacher and his previous school had labelled him lazy - not helpful then and still impeding him now. So labelling was an incredibly positive outcome for him.

Yes 'jump start' I believe is a government initiative to help with reading and literacy.
DS was put on jump start aged 5 years along with a couple of others in his class.
I think it was about half an hour a day doing reading/writing/drawing and throwing and catching balance type activities.
I'm not sure DS was ever labelled and didn't have any dyspraxic type symptoms (other than the fact that his writing was hard to read but he is a left hander and now he has managed to get it really neat)

I think aged 5 DS's teacher must have decided it would help DS to partake in jump start and it certainly didn't do any harm.
However I think he would have improved by himself as he certainly doesn't appear to be dyslexic or dyspraxic but it is good that schools are looking out for these things

Gingham_Ribbon

the_rottweiler wrote: »

While all posts are helpful, I feel that a lot of them will scare the op.
...
Senco started at the school and recommended a new programme of exercises called Primary Movements and Even though she had never tried the programme on a 13 year old, she thought it may help. Just 10 minutes of these exercises per evening and within 2 months the difference was amazing.

Thank you for telling us that. :j I realise I may have made things sound bleak. I think knowledge is power and a diagnosis can prevent disaffection which is why I was so upfront about it, but I didn't mean to scare anyone!

Can you tell me more about Primary Movements, please?

delain

My little brother (22 now, not so little :eek:) has Dyspraxia and has a successful job as a fine dining chef, it doesn't affect his adult life at all. My DD1 is currently being tested for Dyspraxia and I'm damn glad about it, because it means she won't feel people think she's stupid because she does the things she does.

Dyspraxia is no barrier to a normal or happy life, don't worry OP.

notakid

delain wrote: »

My little brother (22 now, not so little :eek:) has Dyspraxia and has a successful job as a fine dining chef, it doesn't affect his adult life at all. My DD1 is currently being tested for Dyspraxia and I'm damn glad about it, because it means she won't feel people think she's stupid because she does the things she does.

Dyspraxia is no barrier to a normal or happy life, don't worry OP.

Agree! My sister is dyspraxic. It was never picked up at school. She was always spoiling days out by falling off the roundabout or slide. She nearly took her eye out with a swing! She was at the hosp so much they took her into a special room to see if Mommy and Daddy ever hit you. :eek:

I saw her fall off her bike once in the most cartoonish way. She went over the handlebars like a rocket, skidded on her chin for a metre then hit her head against the light pole.

She is very unorganised, never remembers dates, Not relied on, unless you prompt!

She makes me look organised and I'm dyslexic!

She was tested at school for dyslexia (because of me, I'm three years older) but she didn't test positive, she is much better at maths than me!

She has a very successful job. She deals with spreadsheets and figures for the company and, she has never had any help or acknowledgement of her problems.

Yes, her life is more difficult and she makes stupid mistakes but when you've never known any different, its not so bad.

P.S She still spoils Days out by falling over, I've just got used to it!

Debtphobic_Dinah

To the OP
Do not worry too much about your son, if he is happy and healthy and getting on with his peers then thats great. If he does have something they give a name to he will still be the same great kid. If he ends up getting a bit of extra help at school for balance and handwriting then its a good thing.