Hello!
So.. I accidentally came across the word dyspraxia, looked it up online and realized I might have a form of it.
- I'm a rather clumsy person; I'm very self conscious about the way I walk and run. As for walking, my mum noticed that when I walk my feet turn inward. So now, especially in public I often try to walk with feet pointing straight ahead but it feels weird. I always walk quite fast and have problems when there are people in front of me walking slowly and I have to adjust my pace. I feel super weird and always worry that people will notice how weird I walk and move in general. When walking with someone next to me I don't really seem to be able to walk straight. As for running, I am a fast runner, but also always feel awkward doing it and worry abotu how others see me. I don't really know what to do with my hands. But I'm not sure if it's just in my head or am i really running weirdly. I often bump into things although I don't even notice it at home, but when in public I overthink my every move and try to be really cautious, yet I still end up bumping into things. I have problems sitting and getting up in restaurants, moving chair without bumping into the desk or another chair. I'm quite bad at sports and I absolutely hate p.e and feel very self cousious about my every move. Our teacher often shows us pilates moves and we're supposed to copy it, but I always feel weird doing it and often copy it incorectly and the teachers ends up correcting my position. I'm not good at volleyball or basketball. We did play quite a lot of volleybal the past two years and I think i have really improved but I'm still worse than many other students. There was one instance a few month a go when we had a small basketball competition and i ended up being the best and I hit five baskets in a row in shortest time and everyone was so surpprised because i'm always so bad at stuff. This never happened again an I?m still bad at hitting the basket.That one time we played table tenis and I sucked but after some time got much better at doing it. I struggle with balance exercises as well. I'm quite bad at biking as well, although I never got the chance to really practice. When I got my biking license when I was young, they said my bike was a bit to big and therefore I had some problems with control. However I learned to ski when I was Young and since then we go skiing every year and I'm quite good at it. I also did horse riding for some time and didn't have any major problems. I think I trip quite often when walking and things often fall out of my hand. I have troubles carrying mroe things at once (more glasses or plates for example) and with carrying glasses with drinks in it. I often spil it and have to really concentrate to not do so.. I never did lots of cooking and preparing food when I was Younger and now I have some problems with slicing. I can manage it just fine but it looks weird and people always think I'm gonna cut myself. I'm not very keen at using scissors as well and crafting and being precise is quite difficult but I'm not like incapable of doing it. I'm creative and liek to do it althouhg it probably takes me more time to do it as it would normally take. I also have problems at salting food for example. I always end up salting it too much. I'm can't dance, never really learned but I can't really improvise as well, nevem know what to do with my arms and legs and how to move in rhytm. Also when I was a child and just started school I had problems with glue, especially with liquid ones. I don't really use it anymore so i don't know how good I am now at applying it. It's hard for me to be precise in general and my hands are a bit shaky. I also struggle with school gadgets and laboratory equipment. I just got used to not touching it and letting others do it instead of me. Like in chemistry class I tend to rely on my partners to do the practical work. I don't really have problemy with tying laces though, I do it automatically and don't think about it.It might be a bit slower than normal but i'm not really sure. I also don't have problems with my writing, It's readable and quite nice but I dthink I write a bit slower than other students. I'm also good at drawing but I did lvoe to draw as I was Young so it might be due to practice. It takes me a lot of time though and I have to have a Picture of what I draw in front of me so i basically end up copying it. I can't draw out of my head though. And I'm quite bad at doing sketches in school which have to be done quickly. It's hard for me to draw circles and also using compass in math. I type quite fast on the keyboard but that's again probably because i spend so much time typing on computer. I do type a bit slower on telephone as I don't text so much.. I also have problems at eating salads and getting it to stay on fork and get it completely in my mouth. It's similar with spaghetti, I really struggle with long pieces that I can't get completely in my mouth. I also have problems at painting my nails but I never really did it a lot. Peeling is also difficult and I if i do it i do it a bit differently, but I do think those kind of things are easier for others even though they don't necesarilly do it often though. A friend once mentioned to me that i seem quite clumsy which is embarrassing. It seems like my balance and coordination skills get even worse in front of others. I used to think that it's the anxiety causing it, but thinking about it, it might just be that I don't really notice it at home as I have gotten used to it. In public on the other hand I always pay attention and try to not bump into sth and mantain balance. My posture was also always very bad. I always feel weird standing in place and can't really stand on both legs. I always stand unevenly, with one knee bend and other leg straight. And i never know what do do with my arms. I also have problems when standing in playe on stairs. Like in school when there's a crowd and I get stuck on stairs. I always feel like I'm gonna fall any minute. When I fill my drink when in restaurants for example I sometimes end up pouring some drink next to the glass. When sitting at the table and talking with sthf for example I also often kick the table with my legs. I do have some problems with pronunciation but mostly just with words from another language that i learn. Like in german class when it's my turn to read loudly, I often ask my friend how a word is pronunciated. And thinking about it I do in general often ask classmates how sth is pronunciated, especially words that are new to me. My classmates do seem to not have this kind of problems. I also have big problems following multi step instructions. This is specially a problem in practical laboratory work in chemistry for example. The teacher usually gives the multi step isntruction of what we're supposed to do, while she shows it herself as well, but I don't end up remembering it and I always rely on classmates to know what we're supposed to. Also when baking sth with friends (I don't have the courage to do it myself!) following a recipe they usually look at it and know what to do but I always have to follow only one step at the time and have to have the recipe with me all time. Also when mum gives me some kind of instructions (like how to use some kind of device when i'm home alone) I usually stop her and ask her to start over and slowly . At the end I still end up forgetting it and have to call her again for instructions when using that device. But once I do it myself i usually remember it for a while. In school I also have problems when I try to listen and take notes at the same time. I always end up losing myself and when I concentrate again I have no idea what the teacher is talking about.So with most classes I just copy things from the table and don't really listen to the teacher, and end up learning it at home from the book. Therefore I don't really have problem with grades, I'm one of the best in my class, but I do struggle with classes where it's importan to listen to the teacher because there's not all of the information in the book. So I've always tried but can never really make good notes as I get lost in between. Other students (those that pay attention) always have much better notes and mroe information so I always end up copying it to learn from their notes. I also have problems focusing on studying and therefore I always end up studying the last day and doing all the writting assigments the last minute. Those really take me a lot of time, more than other, and I really need the last day adrenalin rush to be able to finish it. I don't have problesm with writing essays though, but i do dislike it. I'm not really organized, my desk is always a mess and I don't really plan. I pack at the last moment. I've also noticed that i never really think sth through, like when i start thinking about sth, the next minute i think about sth else and then about sth else...And this description of my symptoms is not really organized as well, I often move on to the next thing (like describing problems with memory) and then I remember other symptoms of motor skills deficit and have to go back to write that as well.. My sense of direction is quite bad as well. I don't mix up left and right but I'm not really observant and when going sth in a town with friends I could never come back by mself, I always rely on them. I don't know if it's because I'm too much in my head or due to poor sense of direction and weak memory..
Now that's about it. I could probably think of even more symptoms but this is long enough as it is. Sorry about all the mistakes, english is not my first language and about half way through I didn't have the energy to double check every word anymore so here we go..
What do you think? It does look like I have most of the dyspraxic symptoms, but I also don't have some typical problems like with shoelaces, writing and drawing and i'm good at skiing, but I did practice those things a lot through childhood and that might be the reason. I also never had noticable problems in school and was always a straight A student so this might be the reason why i was never diagnosed with it. My younger brother on the other hand was diagnosed with ADHD a few years back and he also can't tie his shoelaces and is really bad at drawing and writing but as I said I didn't have such problems. I guess everyone is affected a bit differently..
Okay, now I really have to stop writing.. THanks for your help in advance!!!
Do I have dyspraxia?
Moderator: Moderator Team
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
I am dyspraxic, and have a lot of the same problems as you, particularly with sport, eating, and "shaking hands" . I also have great difficulty taking notes, and when I was younger had great difficulty copying from the blackboard (luckily children these days no longer need to copy from the board). It's interesting that you also have difficulty with multi step instructions, as I often find it easier to do one thing at a time, rather than a list of things to do.
Welcome to the board!
Welcome to the board!
-
- New member - welcome them!
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Wed Jun 05, 2013 8:18 pm
- Location: B.C. Canada
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
Most of what you wrote sounds similar to how I would describe dyspraxia (keep in mind I'm only self diagnosed). Based off what I've read I think you can still have dyspraxia despite the differences you described. I've always been able tie my shoes fine and I'm an excellent drawer, but I still fit the dyspraxic condition to the T.
I can strongly relate to your experiences in labs. I always aced the theory and then struggled trying to figure out what to do in the labs, especially multi-step verbal instructions.
Cheers.
I can strongly relate to your experiences in labs. I always aced the theory and then struggled trying to figure out what to do in the labs, especially multi-step verbal instructions.
Cheers.
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
Hey, Amy. I'm new to this forum, and like, you also came across it unexpectedly. At the time, I was googling reasons for my tripping often and bumping into things all the time. I haven't been diagnosed.I've only begun to I am thinking about seeing a GP. I'm afraid he might think I'm looking for an excuse for my clumsiness, rather than pulling my act together.
I've been doing some thinking lately. I realized:
. I am very clumsy. I can't poor a drink without spilling. It's the same when dishing from a pot. I drop things, even when I telling myself mentally I can't drop it. I make thin sections in a lab. I cannot tell you how many I have to remake because I dropped it and broke them.
. I bump into furniture several times a day, several days a week. That forms bruises on top of bruises. Sheesh!
. I also find I am very sensitive to sound, be it a loud, ear-grating sound, or a constant soft clicking sound. There are times when I hear alarms going off far away. When I mention it to others, they tell me they don't hear it initially. when getting closer to it, they hear it, too. They compliment me on my hearing. what they don't realise is that it was irritating my ears. That's why I picked it up.
. I've been told I walk funny. I think that, too. It makes me so self conscious in public. Like you, I walk very fast, and hate having slower people walk in front. I walk this way because, I feel awkward walking slow. I'm not sure what to do with my feet. I guess I feel that when I walk fast, others will notice the speed more than the awkwardness. I can't walk straight. I zig zag from left to right. I tell myself it's to avoid manholes and people. It's a lie. I can't walk straight without leaning over or feeling awkward.
. I also don't have problems with my writing, It's readable and neatI write a bit slower than other students. It's a struggle to write both neat and fast. usually opt for neat, but slow.
. For the past few months, I can't form a coherent verbal sentence. It's like the words are in my head, but my mouth won't form them. I come across as a complete idiot when speaking. It annoys me. I mumble alot. I'm finding I'm a little slow in following multi-step instructions. I repeat the instrution I'm given verbally. Like I'm telling my brain what it should do. It doesn't work. I get the first part right, then get lost, but I remember the end. I state the obvious, like it's a revelation. People around me say things like, "you don't say", or "Really?!" sarcastically.
I've been doing some thinking lately. I realized:
. I am very clumsy. I can't poor a drink without spilling. It's the same when dishing from a pot. I drop things, even when I telling myself mentally I can't drop it. I make thin sections in a lab. I cannot tell you how many I have to remake because I dropped it and broke them.
. I bump into furniture several times a day, several days a week. That forms bruises on top of bruises. Sheesh!
. I also find I am very sensitive to sound, be it a loud, ear-grating sound, or a constant soft clicking sound. There are times when I hear alarms going off far away. When I mention it to others, they tell me they don't hear it initially. when getting closer to it, they hear it, too. They compliment me on my hearing. what they don't realise is that it was irritating my ears. That's why I picked it up.
. I've been told I walk funny. I think that, too. It makes me so self conscious in public. Like you, I walk very fast, and hate having slower people walk in front. I walk this way because, I feel awkward walking slow. I'm not sure what to do with my feet. I guess I feel that when I walk fast, others will notice the speed more than the awkwardness. I can't walk straight. I zig zag from left to right. I tell myself it's to avoid manholes and people. It's a lie. I can't walk straight without leaning over or feeling awkward.
. I also don't have problems with my writing, It's readable and neatI write a bit slower than other students. It's a struggle to write both neat and fast. usually opt for neat, but slow.
. For the past few months, I can't form a coherent verbal sentence. It's like the words are in my head, but my mouth won't form them. I come across as a complete idiot when speaking. It annoys me. I mumble alot. I'm finding I'm a little slow in following multi-step instructions. I repeat the instrution I'm given verbally. Like I'm telling my brain what it should do. It doesn't work. I get the first part right, then get lost, but I remember the end. I state the obvious, like it's a revelation. People around me say things like, "you don't say", or "Really?!" sarcastically.
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
Hey, there are other things I wanted to mention. I do apologise for the length of my posts.
Yesterday, I was at the store, buying banannas. I took a bunch, put it into a packet and went to have it weighed. The guy who was supposed to weigh it wasn't there. There a lady in front of me,with a packet of veggies to weigh as well. I say, "Is there no one here to weigh?". She responds, "Surely, you can see that." That hurt. To me it was something I had to know. I know it was obvious, but it was like I needed confirmation. Dumb, huh.
All through school, and university, I was a slow learner. I spent lunch break after lunch break in class trying to get work done, and keep up with my colleagues. In the end, it didn't result in what I was working for. I worked long and hard, just to scrape through. Looking back, I realize that my concentration was poor, still is. My mind wandered way too often, still does. I have terrible short term memory. I can't remember what I wore yesterday, but remember random thing from my pre-school days.
Speaking of school days, I didn't have many friends. In fact, I had none. I felt awkward, and like I didn't fit into any group. I still feel that way. I read this might be a symptom.
To summarize: I can't walk straight,nor talk clearly anymore, can't socialize, can't write fast, can't come up with an answer to any question quickly. My brain takes a while to understand the question and formulate an answer. In that time, my boss or whoever, looks at me like I'm not all there. I can't stand still, and sit with poor posture. Both, I have tried to correct, but fail. And on top of it all, I feel depressed. Self-loathing, and miserable. There are times when I can't get out of bed. I think what's the use. All I'll get out of it is another bruise, and more "'are you all there?'looks"
Anyway,
Thanks for reading, guys. I needed to get all that off my chest. This forum is helping me realize that I am not alone in this. Thanks for that.
Yesterday, I was at the store, buying banannas. I took a bunch, put it into a packet and went to have it weighed. The guy who was supposed to weigh it wasn't there. There a lady in front of me,with a packet of veggies to weigh as well. I say, "Is there no one here to weigh?". She responds, "Surely, you can see that." That hurt. To me it was something I had to know. I know it was obvious, but it was like I needed confirmation. Dumb, huh.
All through school, and university, I was a slow learner. I spent lunch break after lunch break in class trying to get work done, and keep up with my colleagues. In the end, it didn't result in what I was working for. I worked long and hard, just to scrape through. Looking back, I realize that my concentration was poor, still is. My mind wandered way too often, still does. I have terrible short term memory. I can't remember what I wore yesterday, but remember random thing from my pre-school days.
Speaking of school days, I didn't have many friends. In fact, I had none. I felt awkward, and like I didn't fit into any group. I still feel that way. I read this might be a symptom.
To summarize: I can't walk straight,nor talk clearly anymore, can't socialize, can't write fast, can't come up with an answer to any question quickly. My brain takes a while to understand the question and formulate an answer. In that time, my boss or whoever, looks at me like I'm not all there. I can't stand still, and sit with poor posture. Both, I have tried to correct, but fail. And on top of it all, I feel depressed. Self-loathing, and miserable. There are times when I can't get out of bed. I think what's the use. All I'll get out of it is another bruise, and more "'are you all there?'looks"
Anyway,
Thanks for reading, guys. I needed to get all that off my chest. This forum is helping me realize that I am not alone in this. Thanks for that.
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
Hi Cari,
Welcome to the forum,
I know how you feel, as regular as clock work something remind me of my problems. I on the other hand did make life long friends, but very limited number of them. as still friends with someone I was in Primary school with, and still friends some nearly 32 years later.
and all the teachers knew I had a problem, and one decided to make it an easier decision and not attend that class after arriving 5 minutes late, she said if you can't be here on time, do the work, then don't bother coming to class, so I stopped attending that class, simple solution, and made my life a whole lot less stressful. but that was the worst teacher of the lot, her teaching skills were crap, her attitude stank to high heaven, and never bothered to see if I needed help. it was my problem, and not hers as she seen it, and always singled me out in class like every 5-10 minutes for the whole 1 hour 10 minute lesson.
and then to be diagnosed with the hand-eye co-ordination of a 6 year old at the age of 16, it still didn't give me the/any help when it came to exams, I was still expected to do exams in the same time limit, well I barely scrapped through by the skin of my teeth in the end, I think it was 1 exam paper was handed in unfinished, but passed all exams somehow.
Welcome to the forum,
I know how you feel, as regular as clock work something remind me of my problems. I on the other hand did make life long friends, but very limited number of them. as still friends with someone I was in Primary school with, and still friends some nearly 32 years later.
and all the teachers knew I had a problem, and one decided to make it an easier decision and not attend that class after arriving 5 minutes late, she said if you can't be here on time, do the work, then don't bother coming to class, so I stopped attending that class, simple solution, and made my life a whole lot less stressful. but that was the worst teacher of the lot, her teaching skills were crap, her attitude stank to high heaven, and never bothered to see if I needed help. it was my problem, and not hers as she seen it, and always singled me out in class like every 5-10 minutes for the whole 1 hour 10 minute lesson.
and then to be diagnosed with the hand-eye co-ordination of a 6 year old at the age of 16, it still didn't give me the/any help when it came to exams, I was still expected to do exams in the same time limit, well I barely scrapped through by the skin of my teeth in the end, I think it was 1 exam paper was handed in unfinished, but passed all exams somehow.
-
- New member - welcome them!
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Mon Oct 13, 2014 2:17 pm
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
Amy, you have described me almost to a tee, with a few tiny exceptions. Whatever this is it feels like dyspraxia, but lighter. Everyone seems to have more serious issues, while I just have impairments. There are a lot of things that I have minor problems with and they seem to fit a pattern. For example, I can't generally catch something thrown towards me unless I have some sort of warning, but I CAN catch... Anyways, whatever this is makes me feel like I just suck at most things and I always try to compensate. It's frustrating. I also have good grades in school, when I read to get information instead of listening it's like I can actually think like a normal person. When I have to listen to verbal instructions it kind of hurts, like having a hangover feels. Sometimes I am graceful and athletic (rarely, but it happens) and people always comment on it. Generally I hear the same phrase "you can't do that!" and all I can say is "um...I just did" but then I can't repeat the actions. Sometimes I struggle for words, and other times I sound like a school teacher. I really don't know what links all this stuff together. So far Dyspraxia is the only thing that fits. The bad part is I'm 36 so there isn't any real tests that I know of, and I'm not sure where to go next with this.
Re: Do I have dyspraxia?
Hi
First of all, a very warm welcome to our community here.
I've been described as having dyspraxic tendencies. I liken it to being in a leaky rowing boat. when the waters are calm I can paddle along quite happily but when the sea gets stormy I have to fight to stay afloat and not go into panic mode. I do push myself very hard but being a perfectionist and a bit dyspraxic do not always go together well though I try hard to appear as ‘normal’ as possible and not to let it define what I can do. Obviously some there are some things that are beyond my control and/or ability and I have to try to accept these things. (Note to self: juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle will end badly and messily!)
I'm rubbish at catching even with fair warning, Not always good with taking in verbal instructions either and if someone is watching (or I feel they are), I will 'trip up'.
I understand your point about being unsure where to go considering it generally affects you to a smallish extent and most of the time your coping mechanisms allow you to get on reasonably well with most things and you just work/think harder to compensate?
You could try the self assessment questionnaire on page 6 of this guide and then dependent on results show it to your GP or an occupational health advisor at work (if you have one) as ‘evidence’.
http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/d ... ia_1.0.pdf
Even if you subsequently elect not to try and seek a formal diagnosis, you're always welcome here.
First of all, a very warm welcome to our community here.
I've been described as having dyspraxic tendencies. I liken it to being in a leaky rowing boat. when the waters are calm I can paddle along quite happily but when the sea gets stormy I have to fight to stay afloat and not go into panic mode. I do push myself very hard but being a perfectionist and a bit dyspraxic do not always go together well though I try hard to appear as ‘normal’ as possible and not to let it define what I can do. Obviously some there are some things that are beyond my control and/or ability and I have to try to accept these things. (Note to self: juggling chainsaws while riding a unicycle will end badly and messily!)
I'm rubbish at catching even with fair warning, Not always good with taking in verbal instructions either and if someone is watching (or I feel they are), I will 'trip up'.
I understand your point about being unsure where to go considering it generally affects you to a smallish extent and most of the time your coping mechanisms allow you to get on reasonably well with most things and you just work/think harder to compensate?
You could try the self assessment questionnaire on page 6 of this guide and then dependent on results show it to your GP or an occupational health advisor at work (if you have one) as ‘evidence’.
http://www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk/d ... ia_1.0.pdf
Even if you subsequently elect not to try and seek a formal diagnosis, you're always welcome here.
Tom
Moderator/Administrator
With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)
Moderator/Administrator
With a foot full of bullets I tried to run faster but I just hobbled on to the next disaster.
(from Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Foot Full of Bullets)