Dyspraxia is also called DCD, or developmental coordination disorder. It is a condition that affects physical coordination. It can make everyday movements much harder than expected for a person's age. That can include writing, getting dressed, using utensils or joining in sports. It is not caused by low intelligence. It is not the same as a learning disability, though the two can occur together. In Ontario, DCD is typically diagnosed by a physician. An occupational therapist often gives input. This article explains what DCD is and signs you might notice. It also explains who diagnoses it. A talk with a psychologist can still help you plan next steps.
If you or your child has been called “clumsy” for years, it is worth getting a clear picture. The same is true if written work and self-care tasks take unusual effort. The right professional depends on what the main difficulty is.
What dyspraxia and DCD are
The NHS describes DCD, also known as dyspraxia, as a condition that affects physical coordination. A child may do less well than expected in daily activities for their age. They may also appear to move clumsily. CanChild is a Canadian research centre. It describes DCD as a motor skills condition. It occurs when difficulty coordinating movements gets in the way of common tasks. Those difficulties are not explained by another medical or neurological condition.
Healthcare professionals usually prefer the term developmental coordination disorder. Dyspraxia is still widely used, especially by families. The NHS notes that “dyspraxia” can also be used for movement difficulties that start later in life. That can happen after a brain injury. DCD is the clearer term for the condition that begins in childhood.
CanChild reports that DCD affects five to six percent of school-aged children. It often continues into adolescence and adulthood. Children with DCD can learn particular motor skills with practice. New, age-appropriate tasks may still be hard. DCD can occur with learning disabilities, language difficulties or ADHD. Motor milestones such as walking may have been on time. The delay is often in learning new motor skills. That can include riding a bike, tying shoes or printing neatly.
DCD is not a general thinking disability. Many children with DCD have average or strong thinking skills. The frustration comes from a gap. They may understand a task, but their body cannot do it smoothly.
Signs at different ages
Signs are not a diagnosis on their own. Children develop motor skills at different rates. The NHS notes that a definite diagnosis of DCD usually waits until a child is 5 or older. Early development varies so widely. The concern grows when coordination difficulties last. They show up in self-care or school tasks. They are clearly out of step with the child’s other abilities.
In the early school years, you might notice the following.
trouble with buttons, zippers, snaps or shoe tying.
messy or very slow printing, and an awkward pencil grip.
difficulty using scissors, utensils or classroom tools.
bumping into things, falling more often than peers or seeming unsteady.
trouble learning playground skills such as catching, skipping or riding a bike.
avoiding gym, crafts or other motor tasks.
In later grades, signs may include the following.
written work that is slow, tiring or hard to read because of motor control.
difficulty with sports, changing for gym or keeping up in physical activities.
trouble organizing belongings or managing binders, lockers and packs.
fatigue after tasks that other students do without thinking.
growing self-consciousness or avoidance of motor-heavy activities.
difficulty with practical tasks such as cooking, typing or learning to drive later on.
In teens and adults, DCD can show up in handwriting or workplace tasks that need coordination. Driving, sports and daily routines that involve a sequence of movements can be hard too. Some adults have been told they are clumsy or careless since childhood. They may never have had the pattern explained.
How DCD can affect daily life
School demands a lot of motor skill. That includes printing, drawing, ruling pages and opening containers. It also includes moving through busy hallways and taking part in gym. When those tasks take a lot of effort, a student may work much more slowly than peers. They may produce less written work than they know. They may avoid activities they might enjoy. Teachers may see messy work and think the student is not trying.
The social side matters too. Recess and gym are where many friendships form. A child who cannot keep up may pull back, be left out or become the target of teasing. CanChild notes that motor difficulties can affect school progress, social life and feelings. Confidence can drop even when the child’s thinking skills are strong.
These reactions are understandable. Getting the right kind of assessment matters. Help for DCD is not the same as help for a writing disability or a learning disability. Handwriting may still be the first thing people notice.
Who diagnoses DCD
According to CanChild, a diagnosis of DCD has several requirements. Coordinated motor skills are below the expected level for age. The difficulties get in the way of daily life or school. They started in the early years of development. They are not better explained by another condition, such as a vision problem or a neurological disorder. Ruling out other medical explanations is why a physician is typically involved.
In Ontario, CanChild states that only a medical doctor or a psychologist is permitted to diagnose DCD. In practice, families are often seen first in a medical setting. An OT can assess motor skills and how they affect daily activities. A physiotherapist may help too. Their findings help inform the diagnosis. An OT does not make the diagnosis alone.
Our clinic does not diagnose DCD ourselves as a motor disorder. If handwriting, gym or self-care difficulties are part of a broader school picture, a learning assessment may still be useful. It can show how a child thinks and learns. It can also show whether a learning disability is present. It cannot replace a medical and motor assessment for DCD.
How a consultation can help
You may not know yet what the main issue is. It could be coordination, a writing disability, a learning disability, attention or a mix. That uncertainty is common. A conversation with one of our psychologists can help. You can think through the picture and decide what to do first.
learning assessment for a child looks at thinking skills and school skills. It also looks at memory, attention and how feelings affect learning. We also offer assessments for teens and adults. We see children aged 6 and up, teens and adults. Assessments are offered in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Ottawa.
The psychologist can help you consider a few things.
whether this kind of assessment is a good fit right now, especially if school learning is also a concern.
how motor difficulties may be showing up in writing and classroom work.
whether another referral may also help, such as a medical or OT assessment for coordination.
You do not have to arrive with the right label. The goal of the consultation is to talk through options. It is not to push you into a test you do not need.
Support at school and home
While you are sorting out next steps, practical changes can make motor tasks less tiring. In Ontario schools, students may receive classroom supports when they have a documented need. You can read more about school accommodations for a learning disability in Ontario. Helpful supports can include extra time and the option to type. Less copying can help. Adapted tools for writing or gym may help too.
At home, break motor tasks into smaller steps. Allow extra time for dressing and homework. Choose activities the child can enjoy without constant comparison to faster peers. Praise effort and problem-solving, not only neatness or sport performance.
If worry, embarrassment or school avoidance are growing, those feelings are worth attention as well. Counselling can sit alongside assessment planning when feelings have become part of the picture.
Your next step
You can book a free 15-minute call with our admin team. It is a chance to explain your concerns. We can arrange a talk with one of our psychologists. Together you can talk about whether this kind of assessment is a good next step. You can also talk about other referrals that may help.
We offer learning disability and giftedness assessments. We also offer these assessments. These are for children aged 6 and up, teens and adults. You can come to our offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge or Ottawa. The call is not a therapy session. It is not a crisis service. Booking it does not mean you must go ahead with an assessment.
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, call 911. If you are thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8, any time.
Last reviewed: November 2026