If your child is bright but always “clumsy”, dreads PE and handwriting, and the NHS list stretches into years, a private assessment can give you answers and a plan far sooner.
Developmental coordination disorder (DCD), often called dyspraxia, affects how a child plans and carries out movement. It shows up as difficulty with handwriting, dressing, riding a bike, catching a ball, or organising themselves, even though the child is just as able as their classmates in other ways. Left unrecognised, it chips away at confidence and is often mistaken for laziness.
A formal DCD assessment is usually carried out by an occupational therapist using standardised tools such as the Movement ABC-2 (MABC-2), often alongside a paediatrician who rules out other causes. The best assessments look at the whole picture, because coordination difficulties frequently travel with ADHD, dyslexia or sensory differences.
Our directory includes specialist occupational therapists and the UK’s longest-running DCD centre. Browse to compare and contact them directly.
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