Dyspraxia and EFA supplementation

[Heba]

I'm new to this forum, so please forgive me if I'm asking a silly question or asking for information which is available in another thread - I *have* searched, but haven't come up with much.

I have just been reading up on dyspraxia, and in a big "lightbulb" moment realised that this describes my son's behaviours to a T (everything from chewing his t-shirts till they have holes in to not being able to use a knife and fork or wipe his bottom to flapping his hands when he runs...and everything in between).

From reading on another forum it seems that supplementing with omega-3s would be a good way to help him (he is already on an artificial additive-free diet which helped enormously) -
1. Am I right in thinking that this should be fish oil and not linseed/flaxseed oil? (I'm hoping the linseed would be OK as we have that, and it will take some time before we can get any fish oil.)
2. What sort of dosage should I be looking at for a 6-year-old boy?
3. Anyone else here with children with dyspraxia? I have no idea what to expect or how to support my son.

Also, any other ideas of ways I can help him? Or sources of information?

Any information - or pointing in the direction of information - would be wonderful. Thank you very much!

[kme]

HI Heba, I am not going to be much help to you in answering your questions, but I also have a 6 year old son with dyspraxia, SPD and ADHD. We have not tried Omega-3s. We did try GFCF with limited results - he is still dairy free as dairy does seem to affect him but we did not notice any difference when gluten was removed. We are going to see a DAN doctor in April so I am hoping to get some info on supplements,etc then.

Is your son seeing an OT who specializes in sensory integration? This is our main therapy for our son. Other than that I am not sure what else to do either. We are doing swimming and gymnastics and are looking into martial arts. Individual sports such as these have been recommended for my son. He loves both swimming and gymnastics - he is also a sensory seeker so he loves/craves the movement.

good luck!

[Heba]

Thank you very much! Swimming is one opportunity we have here, but it's really hard to get him motivated although once we're there he doesn't mind it .

What is a DAN doctor?

There is no-one in our town we can see for a diagnosis, advice or intervention of any kind. However, eventually I think we will be taking him to the Big City to hopefully get some help, as it is becoming more and more clear that his performance falls outside mainstream boundaries.

Am feeling very alone in all this, so thank you very much for your reply - I really appreciate it!

[RobinM78]

Hi Heba - My son is 3 and has apraxia/dyspraxia of speech (I also suspect limb apraxia but it's not been diagnosed). We started giving him Nordic Naturals Complete Omega (it has 3-6-9) and it's gotten great results. I think there's a specific ratio you need to look for of the DHA to EPA to GLA. Also be sure to get him vitamin e (which comes in this specific brand of supplements) because that can cause it to not be absorbed as well - if you don't already have him on a multivitamin.

[APToddlerMama]

Originally Posted by RobinM78

Hi Heba - My son is 3 and has apraxia/dyspraxia of speech (I also suspect limb apraxia but it's not been diagnosed). We started giving him Nordic Naturals Complete Omega (it has 3-6-9) and it's gotten great results. I think there's a specific ratio you need to look for of the DHA to EPA to GLA. Also be sure to get him vitamin e (which comes in this specific brand of supplements) because that can cause it to not be absorbed as well - if you don't already have him on a multivitamin.

My son is almost 2 and has suspected apraxia/dyspraxia as well. I have done a lot of research in the last week or so and talked to some other moms on here, and it seems like the Nordic Naturals Complete Omega (3-6-9) is what works best. You can buy the adult kind as it is apparently the same thing but a higher dosage and less expensive. If you buy the liquid, I have heard, and we are using 1 tsp/day. Some people have posted that this is what their doctors suggested. Good luck.

[Heba]

Thank you very much, both! That is great advice; I will try to get the Nordic Naturals omega liquid and look into vitamin E (he is on a multi-vit, but I will need to check how much vit E is in it).