Living with Dyspraxia: A Guide for Adults with Developmental Dyspraxia - Revised Edition

by Mary Colley

For people with Developmental Dyspraxia, everyday life can pose a multitude of problems. Tasks the majority of people would find simple can often be taxing and frought with difficulty. Living with Dyspraxia was written to help all adults with Dyspraxia tackle the everyday situations that many people take for granted. It is full of practical advice on everything from getting a diagnosis to learning how to manage household chores. Important topics are addressed, such as self-esteem, whether to disclose your condition within the workplace, how to communicate more effectively and also how Dyspraxia often interacts with other conditions, such as Dyslexia, ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. This practical resource will be of use to adults with Dyspraxia, the professionals and families members who come into contact with them as well as those who simply wish to learn more about Dyspraxia.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Health, Self Help

168 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The late Mary Colley's Living with Dyspraxia: A Guide for Adults With Developmental Dyspraxia is one of the very few available books that actually provides information, help and necessary encouragement to and for adults diagnosed with dyspraxia or NLD (nonverbal learning disability), as unfortunately and frustratingly, the vast majority of books about and regarding neurological and developmental issues are generally geared almost entirely towards children, often having no, or at best just scant information specifically useful for adults (which is especially problematic for those individuals first diagnosed as older adults). Now not all of the featured suggestions will of course necessarily work for everyone across the board (because NLD and dyspraxia do have many variations and multiple levels of severity, and I also know from my own personal experiences that symptoms sometimes tend to come and go and are influenced by tiredness, one's emotional state, even if one is suffering from a cold or the flu). But Living With Dyspraxia has truly proven to be an absolute treasure trove of suggestions, of useful ideas for me, and simply knowing that I am not alone, that I actually do have legitimate, bona fide, medically present problems and issues and am neither imagining things nor "not trying hard enough" (and how many times have I heard that tired old chestnut) has been a real boon to my life, and to my self esteem. Unfortunately, because Living With Dyspraxia was published in the United Kingdom, many, if not most of the websites, phone numbers etc. listed are likely not going to be of much use to and for those of us residing in other countries (like Canada or the United States), but the practical advice readily given, shared (and by an author who was herself first diagnosed with dyspraxia in her 40s) are indeed excellent and universal.

[Darrin Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm glad this book exists, I was hoping for a lot more from it.
Many of the solutions offered are either embarrassingly simple or completely impractical. As another reviewer mentioned, it's also written for a UK audience, so much of the information unfortunately does not apply in North America.
This book is riddled with spelling mistakes, strange typos, and grammatical errors. (One page inexplicably leaves a blank space for every letter 'x' and every capital letter. The word experience is written as 'e perience' and appears that way 5 or six times on one page!)
And I just found the overall tone of the book to be rather depressing. As if dyspraxia is a life sentence. Perhaps my dyspraxia is just much milder than many of the case study examples used in the book, but I feel like her suggestions often seem extreme and impractical. All that said- there is hardly any published literature (outside of websites) available for people with this problem and I did find a few useful tidbits tossed in, so I give it a tentative 3 stars.

[Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

More tonally distressing (completely unintentionally, I think) than it is useful, but it is somewhat useful

[Helena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I first read this book a number of years ago after being diagnosed as being dyslexic and dyspraxic adult. I found this book to be thoroughly depressing and not at all helpful, like being handed a sentence of all the things you are going to struggle with for life! I think it was an out dated approach even then in 2010 and struggle to understand why it gets 4 starts on amazon (maybe ranked by people who feel it gives them an insight into dyspraxic family members, students etc rather than actual dyspraxic adults!?) Whilst recently having a clear out I stumbled on it again and had another read, thankfully attitudes towards the neuro divergent population seem to have progressed since this was written / I last read it. My overall feeling was that I couldn't in all good faith pass this onto the charity shop, in case a dyspraxic person picked it up and felt as bad after reading it as I did. So I tore out the pages so it could be recycled, I have never done this with a book before and I have read some pretty awful books! If I could give it zero stars I would!

There is very little information on finding out what your strengths are and working to those or trying things even if you are scared to do so, noting your progress, putting less pressure on yourself to succeed first time around, thinking of all the things you managed to do well in the end but how you may have struggled more so than most at the beginning, working on building your confidence and the massive impact this can have, even noticing that when you are more relaxed you might actually be able to physically do things that you couldn't before. Rather it seems like pages and pages of overwhelming information re: the struggles that dyspraxics might face and that's your lot! The approach seems to be re: how to jump through hoops, on top of all of the other struggles with dyspraxia, to be accepted by the general population. It felt very much a book about how to change every element of yourself to fit in, rather than embracing your differences, finding like minded people who will accept you for you and don't pay attention to crap like you might be a messy eater. At times I felt the tone of the book was condescending and verging on shaming and allowing yourself to be defined by dyspraxia. Such was my experience that it put me off reading other self help books for dyspraxia because if this one gets 4 starts other highly rated books might be just as soul destroying!

[Mark Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

In all honesty, this feels quite flimsy and disposable. Maybe if you've literally just discovered you have the condition it might be informative, but if you know something about the condition already then this book will be going over familiar ground.

It's fundamentally just a list of ways the symptoms can manifest and some suggestions for dealing with them. I can't really take issue with those suggestions. Though they are geared towards severe dyspraxia rather than mild or moderate versions of the condition. Frankly, they also seem a bit obvious.

I also found that some of the assumptions about the symptoms didn't hold for me. Notably, that dyspraxics would struggle in social situations due to speaking too quickly and blurting things out. Whereas, I speak very slowly and pause excessively.

Most fundamentally, I don't feel like I understand the condition any better for having read the book. Colley basically shrugs her shoulder at the question of dyspraxia's causes and notes but does not tease out the interactions with other conditions.

[Fabiana Lopes Da Silveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of useful, practical information and tips, all displayed in a very accessible way. The only thing I don't like about it is how it sometimes discourages people with dyspraxia to attempt certain things only because it might be more challenging for them – I am not learning about this difficulty in order to achieve less or give up on things I really want; rather, I want to learn how to better deal with these hurdles in order to achieve whatever it is that I want to achieve.

[Christian Gittings · Rating 4 out of 5]

very helpful book for any that has Dyspraxia

[Ponder Woodcock]

If you find Victoria Biggs' "Caged in Chaos" to be too charming and friendly, and you long for something more dry and mature, this is your huckleberry.

[Marie Quek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not particularly helpful to those who don't live in the UK nor those who already know they have dyspraxia and need more specific info on managing harassment/social cues: often references UK support organisations and offers vague tips.

For example, the book states that 'overreacting to a situation by laughing or crying too much can be annoying or embarrassing to others', but doesn't elaborate on how one could go about assessing the appropriate level of reacting for a given situation. Like, overreacting is embarrassing? No shit.

[Andy N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated I feel because of the age of it, but the basis are right.

I was registered with Dyspraxia when I was 28, and a lot of the signs they talk about with it are spot on as they apply for me.

Recommended reading however as even after 25 years, a lot of this is right.

[Lin SINGH-BARRINGTON · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very useful, carefully thought out book for people who have or suspect they might have dyspraxia. The book is also useful for those who just want to learn more about this condition. Somewhat dated in parts and needs proof-reading for spelling errors but a good informative read nevertheless.

[Faye Sirs · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn’t quite what I expected. It was mainly a simplistic guide on different challenges of dyspraxia I.e household chores, eating, etc and suggestions of things to try. Again, quite simplistic. It’s okay for an overview but don’t expect anything too detailed.

[Beroha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally a practical book for adults with dyspraxia ! I would love to see a similar book for people living in other European countries such as France.

[Melanie Rippon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great practical guide for anyone with, or who thinks they may have, dyspraxia. Includes a very detailed questionnaire which would be useful if trying to get a formal diagnosis.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some practical tips but a good bit outdated and tips don't really apply to milder cases. Love the neuro divergent diagram though and some of the less motor symptoms descriptions

[Pam Garrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was ok but a bit dated and not as in depth as I would have expected

[Anusha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dissertation wider reading (ofc when my tutor says at this point you don't need to but I do it for fun pls)

[Kira Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, basic information. This book is geared towards folks in the UK and it's somewhat dated (it mentions old technology, and I haven't checked how many of the URLs given still work), but it's still useful for anyone who either wonders if they might be dyspraxic or just found out that they are. I sure am. Explains why I never learned to ride a bike, and why my grandma always called me the Spill Queen. (What! She used top heavy drinking glasses!)

[geeky1st · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful read!

I understand myself better after reading this book and have learnt that there is more to my disability than I thought. The next step is gaining support for my disability.