#DCD/Dyspraxia in Real Life: Twitter Users' Unprompted Expression of Experiences With Motor Differences

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Limited understanding exists regarding the adult lived experiences of developmental coordination disorder (DCD), also referred to as dyspraxia.
• Social media platforms offer a unique avenue for individuals identifying with DCD/dyspraxia to share their perspectives on the condition's lifelong impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences of adults with DCD/dyspraxia using social media data.
• To gain insights into the functional abilities, participation, compensatory strategies, and well-being of individuals with DCD/dyspraxia across their lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Twitter research application programming interface to collect tweets from users self-identifying with DCD/dyspraxia keywords between October 10-November 10, 2021.
• Harvested 818 tweets, with 524 remaining after deduplication and relevance filtering.
• Categorized tweets based on motor differences, functional impact, and other related topics such as co-occurring conditions and mental health.

Main Results:

• The DCD/dyspraxic community on Twitter highlighted the pervasive, lifelong impact of motor differences across various life contexts.
• Users shared practical compensatory strategies beneficial for others navigating DCD/dyspraxia.
• Insights were provided into the experiences of co-occurring conditions and the cognitive/emotional consequences stemming from motor challenges.

Conclusions:

• Social media data reveals a comprehensive understanding of the adult DCD/dyspraxia experience, emphasizing its lifelong nature.
• The findings underscore the value of online communities in sharing lived experiences, coping mechanisms, and support for individuals with DCD/dyspraxia.
• Further research can leverage social media to understand the multifaceted impact of DCD/dyspraxia on individuals' lives.