This second edition of Madeleine Portwood's successful manual aims to give parents, teachers and health professionals the confidence to diagnose and assess dyspraxia. Most importantly, it offers them an intervention program that will significantly improve the cognitive functioning of the dyspraxic child or teenager. Updated in light of the author's new and extensive research, the book provides the reader with background information on the neurological basis of the condition; strategies for identification, diagnosis and assessment; proven programs of intervention that can be monitored by anyone closely involved with the child; strategies to improve curricular attainments; remediation activities to develop perceptual and motor skills; programs to develop self-esteem; and information about where to find help.

First published in 2007. Research suggests that between five and ten per cent of all children are dyspraxic. There is much debate about the nature of this disorder and many undiagnosed youngsters are denied access to treatment programmes. In most areas specialist provision is a scarce resource and support, when available, is delivered through parents and teachers. This second edition of Madeleine Portwood's successful manual aims to give parents, teachers and health professionals the confidence to diagnose and assess dyspraxia. Most importantly. it offers them an intervention programme which will significantly improve the cognitive functioning of the dyspraxic child or teenager. Updated in light of the author's new and extensive research, the book provides the reader with: background information on the neurological basis of the condition; strategies for identification/diagnosis and assessment; proven programmes of intervention which can be monitored by anyone closely involved with the child; strategies to improve curricular attainments; remediation activities to develop perceptual and motor skills; programmes to develop self-esteem information about where to find help

In this text, the emphasis is placed on the theoretical aspects of developmental dyspraxia, the latest research data and the neurological basis of the condition. The focus is to enable professionals to diagnose the disorder and determine the most appropriate and effective methods of intervention.

For people with developmental dyspraxia, everyday life can pose a multitude of problems. This book is written to help all adults with dyspraxia tackle the everyday situations that many people take for granted. It offers practical advice on everything from getting a diagnosis to learning how to manage household chores.

Built upon the good practice for which the Dyscovery Centre has become so well known, this book takes a broader view of the difficulties that those with additional needs face. It considers whether this is a health, educational or social difficulty and what the wider implications are for the individual and how they manage at home and in the community. The authors look at what happens, what can be done to help and what changes occur as the child becomes an adolescent and eventually an adult. Teachers, SENCOs, teaching assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and parents of children with dyspraxia or developmental co-ordination disorders should find this book stimulates their thinking and helps them in their work.

The term Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is used to describe a group of children who have difficulty. with tasks involving movement such that it interferes with their daily living or academic progress. As with other developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder and dyslexia, DCD is now a prominent concern of both researchers and practitioners. This text is aimed at both researchers and professionals who work in a practical manner with the condition and includes professionals in health, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, health visitors, paediatricians, and - in the educational field - teachers and others who are in daily contact with the children - their parents. The essence of the text is that work with children should be guided by research evidence driving the clinical practice which in turn raisies more questions for research. The authors in this text have both experience in research and are engaged in the day-to-day clinical work with children and bring both of these to bear in the chapters they have written.

Although Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD, sometimes referred to as ‘Dyspraxia’) has received less attention than other developmental disorders, its impact can be severe and long-lasting. This volume takes a unique approach, pairing companion chapters from international experts in motor behaviour with experts in DCD. Current understanding of the motor aspects of DCD are thus considered in the context of general motor behaviour research. Understanding Motor Behaviour in Developmental Coordination Disorder offers an overview of theoretical and methodological issues relating to motor development, motor control and skill acquisition, genetics, physical education and occupational therapy. Critically, Barnett and Hill ground DCD research within what is known about motor behaviour and typical development, allowing readers to evaluate the nature and extent of work on DCD and to identify areas for future research. This unique approach makes the book invaluable for students in developmental psychology, clinical psychology, movement science, physiotherapy, physical education, and special education, as well as researchers and professionals working in those fields.