Dyspraxia is a neurodevelopmental condition that mainly affects movement, coordination, and the learning of motor skills, and it is often formally diagnosed as developmental coordination disorder (DCD). People with dyspraxia can have normal or above‑average intelligence, but everyday physical tasks may be much harder than expected for their age.

What dyspraxia affects

Dyspraxia commonly affects:

• Gross motor skills, such as running, jumping, balance, and ball skills, so a person may seem unusually clumsy or uncoordinated.
• Fine motor skills, such as writing, using cutlery, doing up buttons, or tying shoelaces, which can make schoolwork and self‑care tasks more difficult.

When and who it affects

Dyspraxia usually becomes noticeable in childhood, for example when a child is late to reach motor milestones like crawling, walking, or learning to ride a bike. It is a lifelong condition, so coordination and planning difficulties can continue into adulthood, although many people develop strategies and benefit from therapies to manage the impact on school, work, and daily life.