Unusual situation regarding dyspraxia diagnosis!

[little g]

Hello... My name is Georgia.

I am an O.T living in Devon. I am like many of you... an undiagnosed (but fairly confident that I am) dyspraxic.

I have recently started a new O.T job in paediatrics and much of my work now involves working with Children with DCD (many have other syndromes and disorders). I love this job, but working with and having the same difficulties as my clients is not without its difficulties.

For example, many of you have mentioned the peg board test... this measures manual dexterity and fine motor manipulation... i cannot do it, trying to help children assume correct movement positions is hard, when you have no idea how to get into the correct position yourself etc etc. Anyway, the only way i can deal with this is to practice when i come home every night to try and figure out the best way i can to help the children... I have a supportive boyf who is helping me with this.

I have had to adapt activities to a varying degree... i.e. get our OTA to make photographic prompts of correct movement positions to follow because i do find it hard to achieve some postures (esp as not all my baby reflexes have integrated).

Anyways... i have worked and practiced for about 4 months now, and i can now administer (not complete) assessments to assess for movement patterns in kids. I should note... O.T's are not doctors therefore we can only suggest that some has dyspraxic tendancies sadly we cannot make official diagnosis'... it is acceptable to take O.T assessments to a GP who can then make the diagnosis based on the assessment results.

And i have to say i am very frustrated because, i have now got to the point when i can assess for dyspraxia but i cannot get a diagnosis for myself. My work colleges fortunately are very understanding... but i feel that a diagnosis would help me ...if i could confidently say... yes i have dyspraxia (formerly). I could share this with my parents to help them understand people dyspraxia... with support,compashion and guidence can achieve good /sucsessful things. Without this diagnosis... its difficult... like some others of u i begin to think maybe am making a moutnine out of a mole hill... or maybe i am doing what psychology students do and make up difficulties that arent really there.

Asking one of my work colleagues to perform the assessment is not an option as we only have assessments for younger children up to 14. (im in my mid twenties). i don't know any O.T's in this area privately... therefore they cannot do assessment...

would a doctor heed a self diagnosis do you think ...if it is an informed one? There is a huge gap, diagnosis for adult developmental dyspraxia is so necesssatry as this forum states... there is no one to do it... even if you are closely involved with a profession that can aaaarrrggghhh

[Lithium_joe]

It's interesting to get the view from a qualified professional, I'd rather assumed you'd have professional contacts who would be able to refer you. Certainly the O.T who re-assessed me in Sheffield, spoke of other O.Ts who diagnosed adult (students) in Hull.
Short of that I'm not really sure what to say. Sorry. I suppose the positive step is to take this to your G.P and to ask them, possibly they know of adult assessing O.Ts to whom they could direct you. It won't hurt to ask...

More trivially, when I was assessed I came out in the 1st percentile for the Morrisby peg-board test. That's on standard bell-curve, with avergage proportional about the mean, or put another way out of 100 people in the room I'd be the worst one.

I cannot help but find that amusing.

I also really struggled with a copying exercise when I am quiet a proficient drawer and take quiet a lot of pride in my drawings and art but I realised never from straight copying, I work at what I draw and build images up, trying to do a straight copy (of something like the inter-linked rings of the Olympic logo) was just impossible.

[Creative]

Your post was very interesting. It's good that you are able to help people with the same difficulties as yourself.

I was diagnosed at age 15 by an OT. I guess the best think for you to do is see your doctor.

[Pooky]

My experiences of a doctor are not particularly helpful. Basically I was told to go away and pay someone to test me if I was that bothered.