Dyspraxic Adults

A few weeks ago I was asked to stay behind after a meeting (I work in a library) for a "chat". Basically a kind of "here are all the things we're noticing that you're doing wrong" type thing. Now, this was before my counceller mentioned dyspraxia and suggested I got tested for it. You compare a list of dyspraxia symptoms and my team leaders list of my "faults", and seriously, you'd be hard pressed to find the difference. I'm seeing my GP on Thursday. Now, the woman at work wants a follow up "chat" to see how I've been getting on since. She did suggest tomorrow, but I said Friday would be better as I'm seeing my GP for some "work related issues" as I put it. So, we are meeting on Friday instead. But, how far do I go? Do I mention dispraxia to her? Of course, I've found all this out since our last meeting. Even if the GP says he'll refer me to the neurologist again (I went some years ago) then it's still not offically diagnosed. But then again, I can hardly go on and say that the same work issues are occuring, pretending nothing's wrong.

Hi Brad,
I did type you a really long reply but I lost it!!!!!! Very annoying!
Basically my point was that I think you should talk about it with your supervisor as I've been going through similar these past few weeks and my experience has been positive. My boss wasn't tactful ("I knew there was something wrong with you") but bless him he's trying to be understanding, my tutors at College have been great it's just tough trying to explain to my friends.
If you can take a list of symptoms from the Dyspraxia foundation then maybe that will help you (It did me.... I get tongue tied) I think you should be honest about where you are up to and how you and your GP are approaching it and be positive. Remember that this is not an excuse for not being able to do things it's a reason why you do things differently. You have probably built up a tonne of problem solving skills to over come difficulties in the past and these make you a valuable person to have around.
The fact that they approached you about problems you've been having doesn't have to be a bad thing, they might have come across this type of thing before and be able to give you some support in your job.
I should say though that this is all quite new to me so someone with more experience might have a different opinion.
Let me know how you get on
Andrea x

Thanks! I think the important thing here for me to say is that the counceller (following a mugging) suggested it after I'd been discussing problems with work. Guess she just put things together when the fact I don't drive etc came into the conversation. This team leader is fairly shy herself (which often manifests itself as tactless comments). Perhaps I should suggest she has it?

Haha I wouldn't go that far!!!

Funny though most people have reacted with "I do that" or "I don't do that" when I've talked to them about it. We all just want to fit in I suppose. Maybe she'll reach her own conclusion from what you tell her

My GP was suprised I got to 30 with no-one spotting it before but I think by the time I got to high school I was so scared of being different or people laughing at me I hid what I couldn't do by being quiet and not drawing attention to myself. I stopped trying to do things I thought I couldn't. Now of course its so hard connecting with people because of all the time I spent drifting under the radar and I'm still terrified of embarrasing myself.

It's only this year through doing an accounts course and learning to drive that I've pushed myself in areas that dont come naturally. This lead me to think there must be a reason behind my inability to use the clutch in a car and struggling in class despite having an english degree and plenty of experience studying (of course english is all opinion based rather than factual and there's always spell and grammer check!)

You are lucky to find a counsellor who was aware of the condition because from what I've read its hit and miss across the country for supportive professionals. It's just a shame that it took a horrible event to put you in a position to see the counsellor.

Good luck for your appointment

And x

Well, work know all about it now. I asked for the "chat" to be moved forward (from 3 to 11!) so I wasn't panicking about it. A couple of people knew of dyspraxia, a couple had never heard of it. I told the main six people I deal with on a daily basis. Thought I put my foot in it for a bit when I said that 10% of the population can suffer from some of the symptoms, but they seemed to understand what I meant! So, they'll try and see how they can make things easier for me. I still feel all of a mess in my brain though.

Hi Brad,

I'm sorry your visit to the Dr was disappointing but at least you got a referral. It must be hard for GP's to have knowledge of all of the things they could possible have to talk to patients about but his attitude was disgusting. So much for bedside manner.

I'm glad that your colleagues seemed more responsive than him (I'm sorry... am I assuming you had a male doctor or did I read that in your other post???? Damn dyspraxic short term memory!!!!!) I hope you feel better for getting it off your chest, I'll keep my fingers crossed that you get a bit of support from them.

Have a good weekend and try to relax now this stressful week is over.

And

Thanks! Yes, it was a male doctor. Mind you, he's better than the locum who once wouldn't agree I was suffering from post traumatic stress from the mugging!

I really REALLY hope I haven't shot myself in the foot today.

"My GP was suprised I got to 30 with no-one spotting it before but I think by the time I got to high school I was so scared of being different or people laughing at me I hid what I couldn't do by being quiet and not drawing attention to myself. I stopped trying to do things I thought I couldn't. Now of course its so hard connecting with people because of all the time I spent drifting under the radar and I'm still terrified of embarrasing myself"

Same with me!!!

Brad - glad your chat went ok, sounds like they were fairly understanding and didn't go down the 'but everyone does that sometimes, it's not a real medical condition...' route I'm pleased for you, hopefully your work situ will improve a bit now, fingers crossed!!!

ps: I hate the 'oh yeah I do that too' response, yes that's because most people go into a room sometimes and can't remember why. I do it almost every time I go into a room. That's the difference.

Though she did joke that she couldn't tell left from right as well!