When a child is spotted at school, a neurological and psychomotor development exam can be helpful.
During a consultation with the school doctor, the pediatrician, in CMP, CMPP or CAMSP *, the doctor tests the skills of the patient, according to his age, in terms of graphics, construction games, gestures, use tools… This screening is even more relevant for premature or intellectually precocious children. On this point, dyspraxia cannot be equated with mental retardation. In addition, it has been found that children with this disability have a normal or above average intellectual and verbal level.
Once the diagnosis has been made and depending on the abnormalities detected (dysorthography, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, etc.), the doctor refers to professionals: occupational therapist, psychomotor therapists, speech therapists, orthoptists, etc.
“An obstacle course begins between readjustments, re-educations and educational adaptations,” admits Florence Marchal. For her part, Françoise Cailloux maintains that “an early diagnosis makes it possible to facilitate schooling and avoid repetition by setting up a personalized school program”.
How to help your child?
The “Alpha” method It is based on a transposition of the alphabetical system in the universe of the child, in a form adapted to his imagination. The letters are shaped like an action figure making a sound. For example, mister o is a very round character who loves to blow round bubbles while pushing oooh! admiring. Or, the “f” is a rocket whose engine noise is fff! Stories, illustrated with these characters, allow the child to assimilate the syllables. At the very moment when the rocket falls on the head of mister o, the children, the children discover the sound “fo”. |
As a priority, focus on oral and, if necessary, try other techniques for learning to read such as the “Alpha” method.
Handwriting should be punctual or limited at least (hole exercises for example).
You have to avoid handling tools (scissors, square, ruler, compass, etc.), tables, do not overload the sheets, ventilate the texts and put colors.
“A re-education of graphics can be considered. At the same time, if the calligraphic difficulties (cursive writing) are important, it is necessary to set up palliatives such as the computer with a playful learning which will extend from 18 months to 2 years. The earlier the learning, the faster the autonomy “, assures Claire le Lostec, occupational therapist, before adding” the child thus freed from graphics, will be able to concentrate better on the meaning of the text “.
Nadine, 44, dyspraxic, agrees: “the computer has changed my life. It is as important as the white cane for a blind person ”.
For mathematics, Françoise Duquesne, trainer, recommends “the use of software in geometry to compensate for visuospatial deficiencies, the development of learning through auditory and verbal means (oral reasoning) and mental arithmetic. Counting and counting activities should be avoided because of the difficulty in finding your way on a flat or raised surface.
These arrangements and techniques nevertheless vary in effectiveness from one individual to another. “It’s always tailor-made,” insists Florence Marchal.