Coping with Dyspraxia

by Jill Eckersley

Dyspraxia, which involves difficulties with physical co-ordination, is believed to affect up to 10% of the population. Children with dyspraxia may find it hard to learn to write, tie shoelaces or join in PE lessons at school. Adults with dyspraxia may find everyday tasks problematic, such as driving, having a bath, playing sport or, in some cases, even speaking clearly. This updated edition of Coping with Dyspraxia explains how this condition may affect people at any stage of life, and looks at how to cope with it. Topics include; what causes dyspraxia?, getting a diagnosis, help for nursery- and school-age children, life skills for teenagers, support for adults, conventional treatment, complementary therapies, the future, sources of further information. Jill Eckersley provides the latest thinking on this complex condition, and suggests practical ways to make life with dyspraxia easier.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[D.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good descriptive analysis of how dyspraxia effects those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from the condition,what medical specialists believe causes the condition, ideas on how to help sufferers cope better with life and what assistance is available for sufferers (or what lack of assistance is available to sufferers). This was a good analysis, but as a sufferer of dyspraxia who was diagnosed at 30 years of age I found this volume makes to many steriotypical assumptions. For instance, it constantly mentions how those with dyspraxia who are not diagnosed at a young age are more likely to become unemployed, have alcohol and drug addictions and become criminal offenders. I was diagnosed with dyspraxia when I returned to university as a mature student after being long term employed. This steriotype puts all dyspraxia sufferers in one basket and forgets that every dypraxia sufferers is an individual, and that every person is different. Such steriotyping I believe is more damaging than helpful and I have met many people who were diagnosed later in life and who did not fall into any of the categories stated in this book. Besides this, this volume does make some good points about the ways that people can assist sufferers of dyspraxia and the help currently available (if you can afford to pay). It also makes some good points on the lack of free available assistance for sufferers to help them cope with their everyday activities. This volume is a good general analysis, as long as it is taken with a pinch of salt.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good insights but more of an intro to the condition then really about coping with it