Condition : Developmental co-ordination disorder and dyspraxia

Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) is a neurological condition you’re born with.

It makes moving and using your hands or body harder than usual, which can often continue into adulthood.

Dyspraxia is a broader term for movement and co-ordination difficulties, including one which develop because of damage to the brain.

While DCD and dyspraxia have similar symptoms, professionals prefer to keep the terms separate.

DCD or developmental delay?

Signs of DCD are present from an early age. However, because children all develop at different rates, a diagnosis of DCD doesn’t usually happen until they’re over the age of 5.

These signs are very similar to some of those for developmental delay, such as:

• difficulty playing with toys that involve good co-ordination, like stacking blocks
• difficulty learning to eat with cutlery
• taking longer to start crawling or walking
• difficulty speaking clearly
• struggling to dress themselves
• problems using the toilet

Visit our developmental delay condition page for more information.

• Find out more about developmental delay

Physical coordination

Children with DCD or dyspraxia will typically have below average physical coordination. This may be less of a problem as they get older and learn ways to cope.

A child with DCD may appear awkward and clumsy, but so do many other children who actually have all the typical movement (motor) skills for their age.

Some children may continue to have problems, particularly when writing. and need extra help.

They may also become less fit than other children as they avoid exercise because of their difficulties.

Later in life, people with DCD or dyspraxia may have difficulty with:

• learning
• performing skills, such as driving a car or cooking
• time management, planning, and organisational skills
• following instructions and copying information
• writing, drawing, and typing
• managing social situations or emotions
• remembering information

Because of these difficulties, low self-esteem is common in both children and adults.

Children can also become frustrated, and this may lead to behaviour problems.

Doing co-ordinated movements is a complex process that involves  different nerves and parts of the brain.

Any problem in this process could potentially lead to difficulties with movement and co-ordination. It can affect people of all intellectual abilities.

In children with DCD, it's not usually clear why co-ordination doesn't develop as well. However, some risk factors have been identified, including:

• being born prematurely, before the 37th week of pregnancy
• being born with a low birth weight
• having a family history of DCD
• the mother drinking alcohol or taking illegal drugs while pregnant

Dyspraxia may be caused by damage to the brain due to a head injury or neurological illness.

DCD and dyspraxia should not be confused with other disorders affecting movement, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and stroke.

• Cerebral palsy
• Stroke

It can appear alongside other conditions, such as:

• dyslexia
• autism
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• dyscalculia, which is difficulty learning or understanding maths
• depression
• anxiety

Visit our condition pages for more information.

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Depression

Dyspraxia Foundation 

Information and support for people with dyspraxia or DCD and parents and professionals 

• Visit Dyspraxia Foundation

Scope UK

Advice and support for people living with a disability

• Visit Scope UK

The Brain Charity

Practical help and emotional support for people with a neurological condition 

• The Brain Charity