Dyslexia is a learning condition that affects literacy skills like reading and writing. Persons with dyslexia typically experience difficulties recognizing letters, sounding out words, and connecting letters and sounds to form words.

On the other hand, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), or dyspraxia, is a motor skill condition that affects an individual’s coordination and balance. It also affects speech and large (gross) and small (fine) motor skills.

Dyspraxia can cause difficulties with simple tasks like writing, dressing up, and using tools like a pair of scissors.

Neither condition is related to intelligence, vision, or hearing problems. Instead, they stem from the brain’s processing capabilities.

Despite the challenges these conditions present, with proper support and intervention, anyone living with either disorder can learn to lead productive and efficient lives.

In Nigeria, about 20% of the population lives with dyslexia. And it is usually first noticed in schools where the children are tagged lazy or unintelligent. Dyspraxia, on the other hand, affects 5–6% of school-age children, more evident in boys than girls and in children born prematurely.

As we progress, we will delve into these conditions’ characteristics, types, diagnosis, treatment, and management.

How Can We Tell The Difference?

Dyslexia and dyspraxia are neurobiological conditions that can affect the quality and rate of learning. More often than not, they cooccur in the same individual, further hampering the person’s learning opportunities and abilities.

Regardless of these similarities, each condition has peculiar characteristics that help with diagnosis.

Some typical signs of dyslexia include:

• Difficulty in sounding out words.
• Reading slowly and inaccurately.
• Reading “word by word” instead of reading smoothly.
• Difficulty with spelling.
• Difficulty with writing, including messy handwriting.
• Difficulty with reading comprehension.
• Difficulty listening and maintaining focus.
• Having difficulty with personal organization, time management, and prioritizing tasks.

Some common symptoms of dyspraxia include:

• Clumsiness and difficulty with balance and coordination.
• Challenges with fine motor skills like buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces.
• Poor handwriting.
• Difficulties with planning and organization.
• Difficulty in learning new skills.
• Bumping into other people or objects.
• Becoming tired easily.
• Difficulty in changing clothes.
• Making a mess when eating.

What Truly Makes Them Different?

Aside from the characteristics of dyspraxia and dyslexia, these conditions vary based on their types.

Types of Dyslexia

1. Phonological Dyslexia: This particular type of dyslexia affects an individual’s ability to recognize and manipulate spoken language sounds, making connecting letters with their corresponding sounds challenging.

2. Surface Dyslexia: People with this surface dyslexia struggle to recognize whole words by sight, which can cause difficulties with irregular words that don’t follow typical phonetic rules.

3. Visual Dyslexia: This type of dyslexia affects one’s ability to process visual information. Individuals with visual dyslexia may face challenges distinguishing between similar-looking letters or words.

4. Double Deficit Dyslexia: This type of dyslexia involves difficulties in both phonological processing and naming speed, making it challenging to recognize and decode words quickly.

5. Orthographic Dyslexia: Individuals with orthographic dyslexia struggle with visual memory for letter patterns and spelling rules, which can affect accurate word recognition and spelling.

Types of Dyspraxia

1. Ideomotor Dyspraxia: This impacts motor skills, causing difficulty with tasks like buttoning or tying shoes.

2. Ideational Dyspraxia: This involves difficulties planning and executing multi-step tasks.

3. Oromotor Dyspraxia: Children with verbal dyspraxia struggle to articulate words due to difficulty moving the muscles needed for speech.

What Causes These Conditions?

The cause of dyslexia is uncertain. However, research shows that genetics, brain structure, and environment play a significant role. The condition is also linked to language or visual processing abnormalities.

Similarly, the exact cause of dyspraxia is not clear. Still, it is believed to be caused by issues in the brain that affect the transmission of messages to muscles, making fine motor tasks difficult.

Studies also show that both conditions cooccur with other intellectual disabilities like Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or cerebral palsy.

Testing and Diagnosis

To diagnose dyslexia, a child must undergo various tests assessing their reading and language skills and other cognitive abilities.

While there are no specific tests for dyslexia, these tests are generally administered by a psychologist or a specialist in learning disabilities.

If a child is diagnosed with dyslexia, they will receive personalized strategies or interventions to help them improve their reading and other skills.

For dyspraxia, the diagnosis process can be more complex. Like with dyslexia, there is no single test for dyspraxia.

Instead, it requires a combination of several different assessments. Some of the assessments used in diagnosing dyspraxia include:

1. A physical medical examination to identify any physical conditions causing coordination problems.

2. Assessment of the patient’s motor skills, balance and coordination.

3. Evaluation of the patient’s language and communication skills.

4. Assessment of the patient’s thinking and problem-solving abilities.

How Do We Treat/Manage These Conditions?

It’s important to note that there is no cure for Dyslexia or Dyspraxia. However, with the proper treatment and support, many people with these conditions can reach their full potential and lead successful lives.

The goal of treatment is not to cure the condition but to help the individual develop strategies to cope with its challenges. This can include learning stress management, improving communication skills, and finding ways to be more organized.

For dyslexia, specialized reading interventions and accommodations in the classroom and at home can be helpful. These interventions usually involve devising and employing novel strategies to learn to read and write.

Dyspraxia takes it a step further to include the services of different therapists, which include:

1. Occupational Therapy

First, the therapist will assess the child to know the extent of necessary intervention at home and in school. Then, they will develop practical strategies with the child to help them develop skills specific to the activities where they experience challenges.

2. Speech and Language Therapy

After a thorough assessment, the speech-language pathologist will formulate a strategic plan to help the child speak and communicate better.

3. Perceptual motor training

This training is vital in improving the child’s auditory, movement, and visual skills. The trainer will give the child a series of easy to complex tasks to challenge the child toward improvement.

However, these tasks must not be so much that they cause the child to become frustrated.

How Do We Progress From Here?

Getting an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment and support is crucial for individuals with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. This may involve working with a team of specialists, including reading, occupational, and speech therapists.

Advocating for oneself and exploring resources like assistive technology, extended exam time, and classroom accommodations can also aid in achieving success.

Also, individuals with Dyslexia and Dyspraxia have unique strengths, including creativity, artistic ability, and problem-solving skills.

Emphasizing these strengths can boost confidence and self-esteem. It is also important to find a supportive community that shares similar experiences.

References

International Dyslexia Association (IDA). Retrieved from https://dyslexiaida.org/

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Retrieved from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Dyslexia-Information-Page

Dyspraxia: symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatments. Retrieved from https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/amp/article/dyspraxia

Dyspraxia: what it is, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23963-dyspraxia-developmental-coordination-disorder-dcd

The difference between dyspraxia and dyslexia. Retrieved from https://www.lexiconreadingcenter.org/