Dyspraxia and Motor Skills

Term Paper # 116148

Education > Special
Psychology > Disorders

An overview of the motor skill development disorder known as dyspraxia.

1,315 words () | 4 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

The paper explains that dyspraxia refers to a disorder in motor skill development, where individuals have difficulty planning and completing fine motor skills. The paper examines this disorder's etiology, prevalence and outcomes. The paper also includes specific teaching methods for dealing with dyspraxia and discusses the ways in which a teacher can includes these methods for assisting children with the disorder into the curriculum.

From the Paper:

"To understand the complexities of the condition, it is important to consider the early development and subsequent functioning of the brain. Five weeks after conception, cells with the developing embryo specialize to form the nervous system. As the brain develops and the child grows, connections are made within the brain while it assimilates information coming in from the senses. Until recently, it has been believed that the brain directs these nerve cells, and thus, the body to perform certain activities. However, recent theory suggests that a child has to work out for him or herself the sequence of events that allow for the desired activity (Portwood, 1999)."

Sample of Sources Used:

American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed - Text Revision.) Washington, D.C: Author.
Portwood, M. (1999). Developmental dyspraxia: A manual for parents and professionals. London: David Fulton Publishers.
Ripley, K., Daines, B., Barret, J. (1997). Dyspraxia: A guide for teachers and parents. London: David Fulton Publishers.
National Center for Learning Disabilities. Dyspraxia Retrieved on May 1, 2006 from http://www.ncld.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=466