Global dyspraxia is difficulty learning and implementing complex motor tasks, such as crawling, walking, riding a bicycle, and dressing. It is often found with low tone and sensory issues. It manifests differently in different people; in my son it significantly impacts his oral motor planning. All aspects of eating are difficult for him, chewing and swallowing.
A lot of people in my life are in denial because, well, denial is denial, and also because my son is happy, very verbal, and bright. He has also had almost two years of OT and PT so some of his motor skills are almost at age level, he can walk, run jump, etc... So to most people he appears just fine (and he is in many ways).
The neurologists confirmed exactly what I had thought about him, that his cognitive, social, and emotional development is unaffected, that his condition is not progressive and will respond to treatment, but that he will need a lot of help for a long time. He will not 'outgrow' this, but eventually he will have learned enough motor tasks that his every day life will be less impacted. But whenever he needs to learn new motor skills he will likely need a lot of help attaining them. (I know that sounds like a lot, but it's exactly what I suspected based on the way my son's development has been. It's a wonderful feeling to have two of the top neurologists in the country back me up.)
They couldn't say how long he would continue to need intensive OT, PT, and feeding therapy, but it is on the order of years rather than months. They are writing a letter in support of him receiving services through the school district once he ages out of EI this summer, and also to encourage our insurance company to cover as much therapy as possible.
