ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to determine whether observational assessment alone can give an accurate diagnosis. The starting point of any assessment is to obtain a detailed profile of the child’s early developmental history and determine whether there were any significant factors at an earlier age which may have contributed to the present difficulties. It is important to obtain the views of parents and teachers and identify the major areas of concern. Assessment of handwriting skills is a factor which contributes to the diagnosis of dyspraxia. Speed of handwriting, pencil grip and muscle tone in the fingers should be recorded and, in addition, information about letter formation. The purpose of the David Weschler assessments is to obtain a broad sample from an individual’s full array of cognitive abilities to determine areas of particular strength or weakness. The neuropsychological assessment of cognitive function does not in itself provide sufficient information to diagnose dyspraxia, as profiles vary markedly between individuals.
