Is dyspraxia a psychiatric condition?
Joseph Russell
Published Apr 12, 2026
Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a disorder affecting fine and gross motor coordination. It is a neurological disorder that impacts a person's ability to plan, process and perform motor tasks. Dyspraxia is caused by the brain not processing information properly.
Is dyspraxia considered a neurological condition?
Dyspraxia is a neurological disorder that impacts an individual's ability to plan and process motor tasks. Individuals with dyspraxia often have language problems, and sometimes a degree of difficulty with thought and perception.Is dyspraxia mental or physical?
Developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD), also known as dyspraxia, is a condition affecting physical co-ordination. It causes a child to perform less well than expected in daily activities for their age, and appear to move clumsily.Is dyspraxia a form of ADHD?
Whereas ADHD is a neurobehavioral condition, dyspraxia is quite different even though the two frequently co-exist. Dyspraxia has to do with fine motor skills and results when there is a disconnect between the signals the brain sends to coordinate the body's muscles and the resulting physical movements.Is dyspraxia a psychological disorder?
Dyspraxia is a developmental coordination disorder. This lifelong condition affects gross and fine motor skills, and sometimes cognitive function. It shouldn't be confused with an intellectual disorder. In fact, people with dyspraxia can have average or above average intelligence.Is Dyspraxia A Mental Disorder?
Is dyspraxia on the spectrum?
Autism spectrum conditions (ASC) are frequently associated with motor coordination difficulties. However, no studies have explored the prevalence of dyspraxia in a large sample of individuals with and without ASC or associations between dyspraxia and autistic traits in these individuals.Is dyspraxia an intellectual disability?
The Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) use the term 'dyspraxia' and list it a physical and sensory disability. The NCSE (2011) uses the term 'dyspraxia' and list it as a low incidence physical disability with an entitlement of 3 hours additional Resource Teaching per week.Does dyspraxia affect social skills?
Dyspraxia can make it difficult for children to develop social skills, and they may have trouble getting along with peers. Though they are intelligent, these children may seem immature and some may develop phobias and obsessive behavior.Does dyspraxia affect memory?
Dyspraxia or DCDThe key feature of dyspraxia is difficulties with coordination, but it can also involve problems with organisation, memory, concentration and speech. It is a disability that affects the way the brain processes information, which results in messages not being properly or fully transmitted.