Developmental dyspraxia 1: the diagnosis

Developmental dyspraxia is a specific disorder in which an individual presents deficits in the conceptualization and planning of motor acts. There is inconsistency in the use of this diagnostic term. Some professionals use it to describe a child with general motor impairment, others use it more specifically for children whose difficulties in motor execution result from poor praxis, especially in the processes of ideation and motor planning. Clinically, it is important to differentiate the underlying deficits as the treatment for practic dysfunction is different from that for motor execution dysfunction. Part 1 of this article aims at promoting the use of the term to describe a primary dysfunction in the processes of ideation and motor planning. A brief historical perspective of the condition, the concept of praxis and dyspraxia, and issues of diagnosis will be presented. Part 2 will address issues related to evaluation and treatment.