Motor planning disorder?

NJLH

I had a 1 year review with my DDs early intervention team today and they brought up something called motor planning disorder as an explanation for her delayed gross motor skills. I always come out of these things more confused. She's been to a developmental dr, neurologist and several other specialists and this has never come up. If anyone is familiar with this disorder, who diagnoses it? What type of therapy is necessary? I already have her in PT. She tested out of OT but I may have her re evaluated. Thanks

Mbitner

My son has motor apraxia (and suspected speech apraxia.)  Apraxia involves difficulties carrying out motor tasks.  I am not sure who originally dx it.  I know we spoke about it with all of his therapists, devel peds, neurologist, and pediatrician. 

My son is in OT, PT, and SLP.  He has motor planning difficulties (and delays) in areas of fine motor, gross motor, and speech/language.  

Let me know if you have any questions!  GL!!!  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apraxia

NJLH

Thanks mbitner. Do u mind if I ask what your sons delays are, gross motor wise? My DD only scoots and army crawls...no walking, pulling up, rolling or getting into sitting.

Mbitner

NJLH:

Thanks mbitner. Do u mind if I ask what your sons delays are, gross motor wise? My DD only scoots and army crawls...no walking, pulling up, rolling or getting into sitting.

Initially when he was evaluated (late January) he did move his arms/legs when a toy was presented but hedid not raise them off the surface and his movements were not smooth and fluid.  He did not reach up to retrieve a toy,but when the toy is brought to his chest, he could bring both hands to midlineand was able to grasp toys.  He did not do purposeful transfers.  He could roll from his back to his right side but needed assistance to complete the rollto prone.  He followed a toy to theleft with his head but then made no further attempt to roll prone tosupine.  He required support at hiships to sit and even then could only maintain his trunk off his legs in less thana 30 degree angle for a few seconds. He did not use his upper extremities to prop sit at all.  He really had a difficulties initiated any motor movements (batting at, grasping, touching toys), rolling over etc.  Currently gross motor is his strong point!  He can crawl and pulls up on toys.  He still required two handed assistance to walk. He still does not sit up when laying on his back.  We are working on crawling up and down stairs, walking, standing without assistance, balance and proprioceptive awareness (he has no awareness of where his body is in space), standing/kneeling while playing with toys, transitioning from sitting to kneeling to standing, trunk strength etc.  Again this is his strong point- he has more significant delays in fine motor and speech.  

Klooti

I'm a pediatric OT and I lurk here sometimes just to see if I can answer any questions.  Motor planning is essentially a child's ability to figure out a new movement pattern.  For example, the sequence required to roll over from back to tummy requires motor planning.  Figuring out how to get food on a spoon and bring it to your mouth requires motor planning.  Anything that requires movement requires the brain to be able to come up with a way to make it happen and then the brain must take this plan and communicate to the muscles what they have to do to carry out the sequence.  Generally an OT or PT addresses this depending on where the functional difficulties are. I'd make sure that the OT &/or PT you're working with has extensive continuing education in sensory processing disorder.  If you get an OT that does nothing but stack blocks, put puzzles together, and color...you need to look for a different OT. A sign of a good OTin this situation is one that has your child up and moving and trying to figure out big movement challenges.