| Dyslexia help and advice, information, contacts, research and articles about dyslexia; dyslexia in the workplace and at college; books amd software; and assessment for adults who may be dyslexic or have difficulties with spelling. |
PERCEPTION
AND MOVEMENT.by Sylvia
Moody. Dyslexia denotes difficulty with reading and writing,
and it is often supposed that this difficulty must stem from poor phonology (ability
to recognise, produce and sequence letter sounds). However, dyslexia may also
be associated with perceptual and motor (movement) difficulties. Such difficulties
are often grouped together under the term ‘dyspraxia’. General
difficulties. ·
poor balance
and posture ·
clumsy
gait and movement ·
difficulty
with bat and ball games ·
tendency
to fall, trip, bump into things and people ·
poor handwriting
and typing ·
lack of
manual dexterity (needed in tasks such as cooking) ·
over-sensitivity
to light and noise ·
discriminating
between left and right ·
judging
distance ·
finding
one’s way about ·
doing numerical
and spatial tasks ·
planning
and organising thought, and expressing thoughts ·
organising
daily life ·
social
interaction Study
difficulties. ·
presentation of written work ·
keeping
place when reading ·
keeping
overall structure of essay in mind Workplace
difficulties. ·
using machines
such as photocopiers, faxes ·
entering
data on a computer / calculator ·
copying
down figures correctly and in the proper columns ·
remembering
where things have been put ·
taking
messages ·
using a
date stamp ·
keeping
papers in order ·
carrying
trays, eg, of coffee mugs Managing
the difficulties.·
use a ruler
to keep place on page ·
photocopy
text onto coloured paper ·
colour-mark
layout of tables of numbers ·
systematically
scan each part of graphs, charts, tables of numbers ·
keep operating
instructions for fax machine, etc. by the machine ·
use an
ergonomic keyboard ·
use keyboard
shortcuts / slow down the mouse ·
plan a
daily, weekly and monthly work schedule ·
carefully
pre-plan before going to a new place ·
use upside-down
maps ·
make a
note of routes, eg, to photocopying room ·
request
a quiet workspace ·
get a tray
with high sides and a long central handle (from disability organisations) ·
use specially
adapted utensils for cooking / tools for DIY Assessment.Dyspraxic
difficulties can usually be identified in a psychological assessment (eg, using
the WAIS test). If
physical clumsiness is a marked feature, it is advisable to seek an assessment
also from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist who specialises in adult
dyspraxia. If
perceptual difficulties are marked, then a referral to a perception therapist
would be useful. Living
with Dyspraxia: A guide for adults with developmental dyspraxia, ed. Mary Colley; available from the Dyspraxia Foundation. (Some
of the material in this paper has been taken from this book.) Dyslexia
in the Workplace, by Diana Bartlett and Sylvia Moody, published by Whurr. Dyslexia
at College,
by Tim Miles and Dorothy Gilroy, published by Routledge. Help
organisations. The British Dyslexia Association
01189 668271. The Dyspraxia Foundation 01462 454986. www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk Dyslexia Adults Link www.dyslexia-adults.com Dr
Sylvia Moody is a chartered psychologist who specialises in assessing adults who
have dyslexic/dyspraxic difficulties. |