What is dyspraxia and how does it affect autistic individuals?

Dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the planning and execution of physical movements. The brain has difficulty coordinating the body to carry out intended actions smoothly and accurately. Some of the characteristics are difficulties in motor skills such as balance, fine motor control, and spatial awareness.

Tumi Sotire, adult with dyspraxia, says:

Dyspraxia affects coordination, yes. But it also affects memory, organization, attention, time management, and the sheer cognitive load of getting through an ordinary day. It affects around 1 in 20 people, making it more common than most people realize.

Dyspraxia often co-occurs with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Motor problems in autism: Co-occurrence or feature? paper cited high prevalence of clinically significant motor problems in those with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, ranging from 50% to 95%. These were present across many domains, including functional mobility, physical activity, participation and competence in activities of daily living, and fall risk. Motor problems present a significant barrier to the performance of daily living activities, as well as for social and cognitive development.

Approximately 80% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate deficits in aspects of motor performance and praxis (Bhat, 2020; Green et al., 2009; Hannant et al., 2018; Hilton et al., 2012; Miller et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2004).

Both conditions of dyspraxia and ASD are neurodevelopmental, present from early life, and persistent into adulthood. Both can affect movement, though the mechanisms differ. Both are associated with executive function difficulties, sensory processing differences, and challenges with tasks that require sequencing and planning.

Why is dyspraxia often missed being diagnosed in autistic individuals?

Dyspraxia is frequently not diagnosed because it is not part of the diagnostic criteria for autism. Prior to the DSM-5, a dual diagnosis was not possible. Often, motor skills were not assessed as part of an ASD diagnostic evaluation.  While there is more recent attention given to the motor impairments in autistic individuals, further work is needed to better understand whether motor impairments are comorbid with ASD or a core deficit.

Because both ASD and dyspraxia share common traits, it can be challenging to differentiate between them. Some of the common traits shared between both diagnoses are:

Motor Skills: Difficulty with coordination and movement (Dyspraxia) / May have clumsiness or difficulty with fine motor skills.
Sensory Processing: Sensitivity to sensory input (Dyspraxia) / May have heightened or reduced sensitivity to sensory stimuli.
Communication: Challenges in expressing thoughts verbally (Dyspraxia) / Difficulty with social communication and understanding non-verbal cues.

While dyspraxia can affect learning and self-esteem, autistic individuals may experience struggles in social situations, leading to potential feelings of isolation.

There are some key differences, though, between dyspraxia and ASD. Advanced Autism Services lists those as:

Diagnosis Age: Typically diagnosed at 5 years or older (Dyspraxia) / Can be diagnosed earlier (around 2 years or older) (Autism).
Communication: Often struggles with verbal expression (Dyspraxia) / Involves broader communication difficulties including social cues (Autism).
Management: Managed through occupational and speech therapies (Dyspraxia) / May require various therapeutic approaches including behavioral supports (Autism).

There is a great table available from UK’s Private Therapy Clinic that summarizes the key distinctions between the two.

Diagnosing dyspraxia can also be challenging due to the lack of awareness about the condition among healthcare professionals, especially where there has been confusion on what the diagnostic criteria covers for both conditions. Identifying dyspraxia in autistic individuals can lead to more targeted care and support to improve mental wellbeing, personal acceptance and independence.

What does dyspraxia look like in autistic individuals?

1. Messy or slow handwriting – Handwriting is slow, effortful, and tiring. The quality may deteriorate as fatigue sets in. Many people describe their hand cramping or aching after relatively brief periods of writing.
2. Poor organizational skills – Dyspraxia affects planning and sequencing. For parents and teachers, this can look like constant reminders, daily stress, and feeling like nothing “sticks.”
3. Difficulties with physical education and sport – Sport requires coordinated movements, catching and throwing. The motor planning demands are huge, and the social pressure of performing in front of peers in a PE class or on a team adds another level of stress.
4. Trouble following multi-step directions – Dyspraxia makes sequencing actions difficult. A person can hear the instruction perfectly and still struggle to execute it in order.
5. Fatigue – When movements that should be automatic require conscious planning and attention, it is tiring both physically and mentally. For autistic adults with dyspraxia, the combination of masking and managing sensory input can lead to burnout.
6. Difficulty with social skills – Motor coordination difficulties appear to affect social functioning. Gesture and body language are forms of motor expression; if producing smooth, well-timed movements is difficult, non-verbal communication may be affected.
7. Avoidance of group activities or physical tasks – If a person doesn’t experience success, a protective response may be initiated. No one wants to be bullied, fail, or laughed at.

How can we help?

There are number of things that we can do to help. Here are some suggestions:

1. Occupational therapy – An occupational therapist can suggest everyday activities that will help build muscle development and memory for those daily activities that are important to thrive. Everyday activities will help with appropriate motor skills and motor planning that children use often.
2. Physical therapy – A physiotherapist helps children that have difficulty moving to be able to stretch and move more freely, as well as developing better hand-eye skills, balance, and overall coordinated movement.
3. Speech therapy – A speech language therapist targets communication difficulties, including speech delays and problems with understanding social cues. Speech therapy can improve verbal skills and social interaction.
4. Finding the right movement – Finding forms of movement that work is important for physical and mental health. Swimming, cycling, walking, yoga, and gym-based exercise may be more accessible than team sports. Choose activities that allow for individual pacing. For my autistic son, that has been horseback riding, yoga, and an adapted fitness program. He also loves dancing freely to music.
5. Use accommodations – If handwriting is difficult, take the pencil out of the process and use a computer or voice-to-text software. Structure and routine help build muscle memory for tasks and allow for more predictable movement. Allow extra time for tasks. Break tasks down into manageable steps. Schedule regular body breaks.

It is important to be aware that autism and dyspraxia can overlap. Awareness, early identification, and access to appropriate resources are essential to help autistic individuals manage their needs and challenges posed by co-existing dyspraxia and autism. As research continues to uncover neurobiological pathways shared between these two diagnoses, early interventions and personalized management plans can significantly improve developmental outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by these neurodivergent conditions.

References

(February 25, 2025). Understanding the Link Between Dyspraxia and Autism. Advanced Autism Services

(September 15, 2025). Understanding the Overlap: Dyspraxia and Autism. Advanced Therapy Clinic

Hankir, A. Dyspraxia and Autism: When Your Body Doesn’t Follow the Plan. Private Therapy Clinic

McPherson, D. (January 4, 2025). Possible Links Between Dyspraxia and Autism. Autism Parenting Magazine

Shaw, K. (August 7, 2024). Just how common is it to be both Dyspraxic and Autistic? Dyspraxia Magazine

Sotire, T. (May 22, 2026). What Is dyspraxia and why does it matter for autistic people? Autism Central