Dyslexia denotes difficulty with reading and writing, and it is often supposed that this difficulty must stem from poor phonology (ability to recognise, produce and sequence letter sounds). However, dyslexia may also be associated with perceptual and motor (movement) difficulties. Such difficulties are often grouped together under the term ‘dyspraxia’.
General difficulties.
· poor balance and posture
· clumsy gait and movement
· difficulty with bat and ball games
· tendency to fall, trip, bump into things and people
· poor handwriting and typing
· lack of manual dexterity (needed in tasks such as cooking)
· over-sensitivity to light and noise
· discriminating between left and right
· judging distance
· finding one’s way about
· doing numerical and spatial tasks
· planning and organising thought, and expressing thoughts
· organising daily life
· social interaction
· presentation of written work
· keeping place when reading
· keeping overall structure of essay in mind
Workplace difficulties.
· using machines such as photocopiers, faxes
· entering data on a computer / calculator
· copying down figures correctly and in the proper columns
· remembering where things have been put
· taking messages
· using a date stamp
· keeping papers in order
· carrying trays, eg, of coffee mugs
Managing the difficulties.
· use a ruler to keep place on page
· photocopy text onto coloured paper
· colour-mark layout of tables of numbers
· systematically scan each part of graphs, charts, tables of numbers
· keep operating instructions for fax machine, etc. by the machine
· use an ergonomic keyboard
· use keyboard shortcuts / slow down the mouse
· plan a daily, weekly and monthly work schedule
· carefully pre-plan before going to a new place
· use upside-down maps
· make a note of routes, eg, to photocopying room
· request a quiet workspace
· get a tray with high sides and a long central handle (from disability organisations)· use specially adapted utensils for cooking / tools for DIY
Assessment.
Dyspraxic difficulties can usually be identified in a psychological assessment (eg, using the WAIS test).
If physical clumsiness is a marked feature, it is advisable to seek an assessment also from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist who specialises in adult dyspraxia.
If perceptual difficulties are marked, then a referral to a perception therapist would be useful.
Further reading.
Living with Dyspraxia: A guide for adults with developmental dyspraxia, ed. Mary Colley; available from the Dyspraxia Foundation. (Some of the material in this paper has been taken from this book.)
Dyslexia in the Workplace, by Diana Bartlett and Sylvia Moody, published by Whurr.
Dyslexia at College, by Tim Miles and Dorothy Gilroy, published by Routledge.
