It can impact on all sorts of areas of everyday life. It might make you more prone to tripping, falling, or bumping into things. Or it might affect your ability to perform tasks that require ‘fine motor skills’, such as typing or drawing. In some people, it affects short term memory and their planning and organisational skills.
While it is often regarded as a learning difference, many are not aware of the unique skills that come with having DCD, typically many people with DCD have a great sense of empathy and understanding of others, are highly motivated, and are great at problem-solving.
Lots of people don’t know that they have DCD until they get a formal diagnosis in adulthood, but it’s thought that roughly 3 to 5% of the population have some form of DCD (Kirby, 2018).
There is no known cause of DCD. Some people are born with it, but DCD can also be a side effect of damage to the brain after a stroke, head injury or as a result of another neurological condition. This is known as ‘apraxia’.
Many people with DCD possess unique skills. These skills vary from person to person, but commonly include being highly motivated, empathetic and having utmost determination. People with DCD are also widely regarded as having a great sense of humour and having the ability to solve problems more easily than others.
Did you know?
- DCD is often mistaken for clumsiness
- Many people aren’t diagnosed until adulthood
- Often with DCD, there is no known cause
- Many famous people have DCD (for example, Daniel Radcliffe, Cara Delevingne, and Florence Welch from Florence and the Machines)