The causes of dysphraxia still remain largely elusive. While it is a common condition, with about ten percent of the population of the earth having it, it’s exact mechanisms are still poorly understood. Dysphraxia is one of a heterogeneous range of developmental disorders affecting the initiation, organization, and performance of action.

It is a diagnosis of exclusion which involves the partial loss of the ability to coordinate and perform certain movements and gestures. Children who have it may be very slow in learning to walk and talk, and even to crawl. It is similar to such conditions as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease in the way it affects a child’s movements, yet it is something entirely different from those things at its most basic level.

The diagnosis of developmental dysphraxia has existed for more than a century, but differing interpretations of the terminology remain. The Dyspraxia Foundation defines developmental dysphraxia as “an impairment or immaturity of the organization of movement.” Essentially, it is a disorder in the way that the brain processes information, which results in messages not being properly or fully transmitted. The term dysphraxia comes from the word praxis, which means “doing” or “acting.” Not only is this condition associated with difficulty in moving and speaking, it also causes problems in long and short-term memory and in learning in general. It is not mental retardation, as many children with it are basically quite bright, but it is a disability that affects a child’s ability to process information correctly.

Dysphraxia is a life-long condition that is more common in males than in females, with a ratio of approximately 4 males to every female. The exact proportion of people with the disorder is unknown since the disorder can be difficult to detect due to a lack of specific laboratory tests, thus making diagnosis of the condition one of elimination of all other possible diseases or injuries. Because of the problems that this disease causes, it can be difficult for a child at school, so many parents with children with this condition opt for home schooling. Reading, writing, playground games, and remembering to do homework (as well as remembering what was learned) are all problematic. Even art class can be a struggle, and physical education class usually has to be skipped altogether.

Whilst most of the general population experience these problems to some extent, they have a much more significant impact on the lives of dysphraxic people. However, many dysphraxics have excellent long-term memories, despite poor short-term memory. Also, many dysphraxics benefit from working in a structured environment, as repeating the same routine minimizes difficulty with time-management and allows them to commit procedures to long-term memory. People with dysphraxia may have sensory integration dysfunction, including abnormal oversensitivity or under sensitivity to physical stimuli, such as touch, light, and sound. Under sensitivity to stimuli may also cause problems. Dysphraxics who are not sensitive to pain may injure themselves without realizing it, and so should be monitored closely. Each case is different, and while the causes of dysphraxia are unknown, the treatments for it are getting better.