What is dyspraxia?
Dyspraxia is a neurodivergence that mainly affects movement and coordination, in both fine motor skills (like handwriting) and gross motor skills (like running or balance). It’s not caused by muscle weakness, and it occurs across the full range of intellectual ability.
Dyspraxia is present from early childhood, though it’s often not formally diagnosed until later, and its effects can continue into adolescence and adulthood. Alongside physical coordination, it can also affect:
- Planning and organisation: breaking tasks into steps and following sequences.
- Time management: judging how long tasks will take.
- Speech: coordinating the movements needed for clear speech, in some cases.
- Dyspraxia often occurs alongside other conditions, including ADHD, dyslexia, and autism.
What causes dyspraxia?
The exact cause of dyspraxia isn’t fully understood, though it’s linked to how the brain plans and coordinates movement. It sometimes runs in families and is more commonly diagnosed in boys than girls.
Common experiences of dyspraxia
In children:
- Delayed milestones, such as rolling over, crawling, or walking.
- Difficulty with handwriting, drawing, or using scissors.
- Clumsiness, bumping into things, or dropping objects.
- Trouble with playground activities like hopping, catching, or kicking a ball.
In adults:
- Difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor control, such as writing or fastening buttons.
- Poor balance or a tendency to trip and bump into things.
- Trouble with organisation, time management, and planning.
- Difficulty learning new motor skills, such as driving.
General:
- Frustration or low self-esteem linked to these difficulties.
- Avoidance of physical activities due to coordination challenges.
- Difficulties that persist despite practice, unlike typical clumsiness.
What can help dyspraxia?
If you or someone you know has dyspraxia, there are lots of things that can help. You can speak to a GP, who may refer you or your child to an occupational therapist or paediatrician for assessment and support.
There’s no cure for dyspraxia, but a tailored treatment plan, often involving occupational therapy, can help manage physical difficulties and build confidence. Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps and practising specific skills in a structured way can also make a real difference.
Extra support at school or work, such as extra time for written tasks, adapted equipment, or flexibility with physical activities, can help reduce day-to-day pressure. Building on personal strengths and interests alongside this support also helps maintain confidence and motivation.
Learn more about dyspraxia
There are lots of resources online to help you learn more about dyspraxia, find techniques to help with coordination and daily tasks, and access further support.
- NHS advice on dyspraxia (DCD) in children
- NHS advice on dyspraxia in adults
- Movement Matters UK – a coalition of organisations supporting people with DCD/dyspraxia
Last reviewed: September 2026
Our neurodiversity guides have been reviewed by Jamie Douglas, Associate Director of Response Youth. Jamie has a PGCE in Secondary Education and a Masters in English and Language in Education, with 12 years’ epxerience as a secondary school teacher. He is currently studying for a Masters in Inclusion, with a focus on autistic children. Jamie is autistic himself and is open about his own experience of neurodivergence, bringing valuable lived experience alongside his professional expertise.