They Are What You Feed Them: How Food Can Improve Your Child’s Behaviour, Mood and Learning. Dr Richardson Alex

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      Not all dyspraxic children are overtly clumsy, though. The younger child may compensate for his unsteadiness by using excessive muscle tension, so the problems may go undetected. Later, when he tries to run, jump or dance, or to throw and catch a ball, his lack of coordination becomes apparent. Difficulty or failure in these areas can lead to anxiety or embarrassment, and more tension. He may therefore dislike and avoid team sports and games (or dancing, where he may epitomize the saying about having two left feet!). Dyspraxic difficulties apply more fundamentally to the planning and carrying out of any complex, sequenced actions. Organization and time-keeping are usually poor, and if he’s dyspraxic your child may be slow to start and finish tasks. He may be able to do one thing properly at a time, but can easily get distracted and try to do too many things at once, so none gets finished.

      As with dyslexia, this syndrome is independent of general ability, and strengths often include good reasoning and creative problem-solving skills, including lateral and holistic thinking. Verbal abilities are usually superior to non-verbal abilities, with particular weaknesses in visuo-spatial and attentional processing. Spelling and copying from a board, as well as handwriting, are usually areas of difficulty, although reading itself may or may not be a problem.

       ‘Our son was always a cause for concern amongst his teachers. We cut additives like tartrazine from his diet, and that helped a lot, so he was no longer hyperactive. The other problems remained, though.

       In the end, the new Special Needs teacher suggested he might have dyspraxia, which proved to be the case. Yes, it’s a label, but now that everyone understands, we have put strategies in place that will help him.

      One of those strategies is changing his diet to follow the principles you outline. It’s early days yet, but I’m convinced we’re already seeing a difference.’ – Jan and Andrew

      Because his verbal abilities may be very good, the discrepancy between these and his written work (particularly when under timed pressure) can lead others to think your dyspraxic child is just being lazy or careless, even when he’s trying very hard indeed. When time is not limited, his work may be outstanding, which can add to that impression. No surprises that he may be susceptible to stress and frustration, often appearing irritable and moody as a result. With respect to attention, ‘sensory overload’ (too much happening at once) is often a problem for the dyspraxic child—but once absorbed in something, he may have an unusual capacity to maintain his concentration, provided that the environment offers few distractions. While naming no names at all, I will say that in my experience dyspraxic tendencies are perhaps over-represented within academia, because in highly able individuals, dyspraxia often manifests as the ‘absent-minded professor’ syndrome!

      Common Indicators of Dyspraxia or Developmental Coordination Disorder

       Motor coordination skills substantially below the level expected from age, education and abilities in other areas⁶

       Delays in achieving motor milestones such as crawling, sitting and walking

       Difficulties with activities such as running, throwing and catching, tying laces, and handwriting (often using undue muscle tension in the efforts to compensate for poor coordination)

       Coordination difficulties interfere with academic achievement or daily living. Attentional and organizational difficulties may compound these problems.

       ‘Intuitive’, holistic style of problem-solving, using lateral or divergent thinking rather than following a linear, step-by-step strategy

       Verbal abilities usually superior to non-verbal abilities

      Moving away from the core defining features, many dyspraxic children seem oversensitive to touch (complaining about ‘scratchy’ labels in clothes, or the fabric itself)—but like some children on the autistic spectrum, they may respond well to gentle physical pressure (liking tight hugs, and heavy bedclothes, for example). There are often general health issues, too, especially with respect to allergies or poor digestion—although these can affect many other children, too, of course.

      Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

      For their age, ADHD children are severely inattentive, or hyperactive and impulsive, or both. These difficulties must also be persistent over time and in different situations, and causing serious problems both at home and at school. If your child has ADHD, he probably has some other problems, too. ‘Conduct disorder’ and ‘oppositional defiant disorder’ (breaking rules and having problems with those in authority) are the most common ones, but anxiety, depression or other mood disorders are also linked with ADHD at both the individual and the family level, as are specific learning difficulties like dyslexia and dyspraxia. On the positive side, the energy of ADHD can be very productive when this is suitably channelled—and a willingness to take risks is part of most truly creative achievements in any domain.

      Common Indicators of ADHD

      In ADHD children, many of the following features or ‘symptoms’ occur much more than expected for the child’s age and developmental level. They also occur persistently, both over time and across different situations.

       Attentional Problems

       Makes careless mistakes in schoolwork and other activities, and doesn’t give close attention to detail.

       Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities

       Forgetful in day-to-day activities (often loses ‘tools’ for a job, e.g. pencils, ruler, homework diary)

       Has difficulty sustaining attention in work or play. Even if instructions are understood, and intentions are good, they’re not followed through

       Doesn’t like sustained mental effort and may try to avoid it

       Often ‘daydreams’ (may appear to be ‘elsewhere’ when spoken to)

       Is easily distracted from a task by other things that are going on

       Hyperactivity/Impulsivity

       Runs about or climbs when it’s not appropriate to do so

       Fidgets, squirms or shows other signs of restlessness

       Has difficulty sitting or playing quietly

       Talks or chatters excessively

       Interrupts questions, conversations or games, and has difficulty waiting for his turn

       Shows impulsive behaviour in other ways: can’t restrain himself, and often acts without thinking (may appear unaware or careless of potential dangers)

      The consensus is that full-blown ADHD affects around 1 child in every 20 (5 per cent), but in some parts of the US up to 20 per cent of children are medicated with stimulant drugs (such as Ritalin) for the condition. Diagnosing ADHD properly involves ruling out some other medical conditions that can mimic it, including some hormonal and metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, СКАЧАТЬ