h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A465284

I'm reposting this entry for the author, as their original post is likely to get sin-binned. I'll add my comments about the entry later.


Mikey

My comments on this entry:

* Definitely a worthwhile topic!

* It's worth mentioning a) the official diagnostic criteria for dyspraxia (I can help you with if need be), and b) the fact that not all medical professionals accept "dyspraxia" as a real diagnosis.

* The entry really needs some editing for grammar et al. Yes, yes, a sub-editor can clean up such things, but it can only increase the entry's chances of acceptance if the author has made a really good stab at addressing those issues his/herself.

Mikey

Mikey,

Thanks for the moving the entry here. It's a worthwhile topic, and I'd be sad to see it forgotten in the sinbin.

Anyway, let me reiterate my feelings about it in this thread. I think that it's a promising topic (I didn't really know such a syndrome existed). However, I think it need a bit of a cleanup in grammar and organization. I'm impressed by the resources on the sidebar, but I think the help for parents should be a little bit more fleshed out. Also, I'm a bit curious about how much some of the suggestions help. I know it's something that kids just don't grow out of, but if they work at it, how much of the problems can they overcome? Also, I'd like to know which of the symptoms are common and which are more rare.

Such quibbles aside, I still think it's a nice entry and well-suited for the edited guide.

Yours,
Jake

Thanks Mikey, thanks Jake,
apologies for posting incorrectly - I read the instructions and then posted to what I thought was the peer review

I'll work on the grammar, and as to diagnostic criteria I will get in touch with our paediatrician and ask for a more formal breakdown. Your input is very welcome, however I'll try to dig out some more information first . I'm not a professional, medical or otherwise, only a parent - I had to get interested because my son suffers from dyspraxia.

It is my understanding (derived from conversations with our paediatrician and also child psychologists) that dyspraxia is an umbrella diagnosis that covers many symptoms (problems with praxis, mild autism, apraxia among many others), and not all children show the same symptoms -just different groups of symptoms from a wide range - which seems to be why many medical practitioners hesitate to make such a diagnosis - I'll check again.

Many Education Authorities do not recognise dyspraxia either. It takes a lot time and hard work, backed with medical and anecdotal evidence to convince them, which is the reason I submitted this article.

Children do not grow out of the syndrome, however with help from occupational physiotherapists they learn to deal with some of the problems, even though they may not totally overcome them.

I hope this answers most of your points

Thanks again for your help,
Regards, Vikki

Sorry RL calling!

Hello,

Ah, so Dyspraxia could actually encompass a range of conditions, some more severe than others (and some with varying levels of severity). That makes things a little bit clearer for me, and it's something you should add to the article (if it isn't already in there and I accidentally missed it). Otherwise, thanks for getting back to me on this one. You're in Peer Review (as was the other article), we're just very picky about how the initial message should look.

Yours,
Jake

Thanks Jake
I'll get it right next time . In the meantime I'll try putting it together offline taking account of any queries/comments as I go along and (hopefully) submit a better article.
Regards,
Vikki

Hello,

It's okay, this is what Peer Review is for. No need to create another thread in the future. When you've worked on it some more and are happy with it, just post another message to this thread...

Yours,
Jake

This is a good article I like it. I think it would be great for the Guide.

~Beeblefish

agreed! Is anybody volunteering to take over? 'nette doesn't seem to be around any more.

I have decided to include it in the intelligence project at the university.

The page for the dyspraxia entry is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A632251 but it will take a little work to reformat it into guideml, and to connect it to the entry on intelligence and learning disabilities.

The intelligence project is over at http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A584525 and I would appreciate feedback about this entry, and all of the others as well.

If anyone knows anything else about dyspraxia, or something about dysgraphia, dyslexia, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, then feedback on that would help as well.

I've been both very busy, and ill for some time now (feeling a little better at the moment)- however I've updated A465284, including links - hope someone finds it useful.

re: above - the links go into further diagnostic detail, and also give e-mail addresses for the organisations (help and advice).

The Guide needs this entry.

Even very good schools can fail to spot this - with a fundamentally bright child, abilities may still be within the range of what is considered normal. The diagnostic criteria would be interesting, as proposed in this thread.

I know at least one sufferer, whose mother always put his awkwardness down to her being blind. Now a diagnosis is made the parents are both greatly relieved: it helps to know you're not the only ones.