10 Signs That You Suffer From "Clumsy Syndrome"

We can all have some kind of difficulty related to activities that require movement, to a greater or lesser degree.

You may find it difficult to play sports or you feel that you have two left feet (being right handed) when following a choreography. This happens to everyone and only indicates that we do not have that much ability to perform a certain task.

However, for some people, performing any kind of movement or repeating a sequence of physical steps are impossible tasks. They repeatedly fail the driver's license exam, bump into strangers all the time, cut themselves too easily when peeling a fruit, and simply can't distinguish right and left.

If you identify with this description, you may suffer from the "clumsy syndrome". ? or dyspraxia, in the official nomenclature.

Learn more about dyspraxia

It is estimated that 2% to 10% of the population suffers from this disease, manifesting it since childhood. However, many cases are not diagnosed because parents and teachers who are closest to the child do not always know that there is a disease with these characteristics.

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In addition, dyspraxia may be poorly known even among the medical community and is often confused with another illness, usually of an emotional nature. This is also because the symptoms are not always clear: the most common symptom is poor motor coordination, whether for fine movements or not, but not all patients have this difficulty.

If you have always been a little clumsy, only a specialized neurologist can confirm or reject a diagnosis of dyspraxia. However, if you are curious about this syndrome, take a look at some symptoms of the disease:

1. You were a clumsy child

In the 1970s, dyspraxia was known as "clumsy child syndrome," because people with this disorder were born with this characteristic. That is, tripping, dropping objects and spilling liquids have been with you since childhood.

2. Did you feel embarrassed by your lack of coordination

Since you were a child, you were aware that you couldn't do some things as well as other children, such as playing ball, running, or doing handiwork. Because of this, you felt inferior and avoided these activities.

3. Your balance is poor

Standing still is very difficult as you lean back and forth. Staying on one foot, then, don't you talk? If you identified yourself, is it possible that you have balance problems? one more feature of dyspraxia.

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4. Doing two things at once is impossible

Pick up food at the buffet and hold an umbrella? Walk and have an ice cream? Forget it, because you can't do two things at once. This also applies to mental activities such as reading while a song is playing.

5. Talking or eating are complicated activities.

For some people with dyspraxia, even talking or eating are challenging activities. This is because, even though these processes are automatic for most of the population, they require coordination of multiple organs and movements at the same time.

6. Do you drink alcohol to reduce symptoms?

Some people with dyspraxia use alcohol to reduce their sense overload and to feel less embarrassed by their lack of coordination. Needless to say, this is not a good solution, is it?

7. Right and left: all the same

A classic symptom of dyspraxia is not being able to distinguish the right side and the left side. Still, some people find it very difficult to perform any movement with their non-dominant side. Others, in turn, are unsure whether they are right or left-handed, because the ability (or lack thereof) is the same with both hands.

8. Organization is not your forte

Are you always late, forget your belongings and simply erase the tasks from your mind if you don't write them down? For know that this is another possible sign of dyspraxia.

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9. Driving is too complicated for you.

Do you think you are driving in a straight line but are actually sloping to one side? Or, do you seem to be attracted to inanimate objects such as dumpsters and plaques and hit them? It can be the fault of the clumsy syndrome.

10. It is practically impossible to learn a sequence of movements.

More than feeling unable to dance a choreography, repeating sequences such as steps to park your car, follow a recipe, swim or even make coffee is a huge challenge for you. Any sequence longer than two steps is already a problem.

Of course, only a specialist doctor can confirm the diagnosis of dyspraxia, but if this is the case for you or your child, know that there is treatment. The approach is usually multidisciplinary and involves physical therapy, occupational therapy and psychology, among other areas.

Understanding DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder) (April 2024)