What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects a person's writing. It can make it hard for someone to write clearly by hand. Depending on the type of dysgraphia, it can also make it difficult to spell. It's a neurological (nervous system) disorder that affects the fine motor skills needed to write or spell or the brain process needed to do the task. It also can affect the ability to do math. A lot of what the brain does to write also affects math and writing numbers. Health insurers and most doctors call dysgraphia "an impairment in written expression."
Because writing clearly and correctly is a key focus of a child's elementary school years, dysgraphia can have a significant impact on their learning.
Dysgraphia vs. dyslexia
Dysgraphia and dyslexia both are neurological problems that affect language, but they do so in different ways. Writing something on a paper uses a lot of brain power. This ranges from coding (knowing how to form and recall letters and numbers so you can write them), organization, memory, and using the fine motor skills you need to actually write. If any of these areas don't work properly, then it can cause dysgraphia.
Someone with dyslexia has trouble decoding the words on paper or screen and translating them into a words. Some children may have one or the other, but many have both dysgraphia and dyslexia.
Dysgraphia and autism
Autism isn't in the same group of learning disabilities like dysgraphia. It's a separate disorder, and there's a wide range of ability among people with autism. This is why it's called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) now. ASD affects how people communicate and socialize. Some can speak and function well and be independent, while others may be nonverbal and need complete care.
It's not uncommon to have both dysgraphia and autism together because of the difficulty with language, although people can have one but not the other.
Types of Dysgraphia
There are several types of dysgraphia, and it's possible to have more than one type.
Dyslexic dysgraphia
Dyslexic dysgraphia, also called dysorthography or linguistic dysgraphia, is related to a breakdown between the part of the brain that remembers how words sound with the part that remembers what the written words look like.
Motor dysgraphia
Motor dysgraphia, also called peripheral dysgraphia, is related to the fine motor skills needed for handwriting. It affects the act of writing. It can make holding a pen or pencil awkward and forming the letters and words hard. Someone with just motor dysgraphia can probably still spell well — they just can't write it down so it can be easily read.
Spatial dysgraphia
Spatial dysgraphia seems to be connected to how someone understands the space needed to write. This includes the spaces needed between letters, even if they're copying something already written down. They also may have trouble drawing because they don't understand space. Like someone with motor dysgraphia, someone with spatial dysgraphia can probably spell out loud.
Phonological dysgraphia
Phonological dysgraphia may be more like dyslexic dysgraphia rather than motor dysgraphia and spatial dysgraphia. People with phonological dysgraphia have trouble connecting how words sound and how they're spelled, so it might also involve the part of the brain that processes language sounds. If they're writing words they already know, they probably won't have as much trouble as they would with new words that they don't know how to write yet.
Lexical dysgraphia
Lexical dysgraphia affects how someone can spell. If words have simple rules, they can likely spell them, but irregular words, ones with more complicated rules, become too difficult. Their handwriting isn't affected but being able to put the words down correctly is.
Dysgraphia Causes
Scientists aren't sure why dysgraphia happens in children. In adults, it's sometimes related to a brain injury, like a stroke. In kids, this learning disorder often occurs along with other learning disabilities such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia.
Dysgraphia Symptoms
Kids with dysgraphia usually have unclear, irregular, or inconsistent handwriting, often with different slants, shapes, upper- and lower-case letters, and cursive and print styles. They also tend to write or copy things slowly.
Parents or teachers may notice symptoms when the child first begins writing assignments in school. Other signs of dysgraphia to watch for include:
- Cramped grip, which may lead to a sore hand
- Difficulty spacing things out on paper or within margins (poor spatial planning)
- Frequent erasing
- Inconsistency in letter and word spacing
- Poor spelling, including unfinished words or missing words or letters
- Unusual wrist, body, or paper position while writing
This learning disability can also make it hard to write and think at the same time. Creative writing tasks are often especially hard.
Dysgraphia Diagnosis
The first step for a dysgraphia diagnosis is for your child's pediatrician to rule out any other diseases or conditions that could cause writing difficulties.
A licensed psychologist trained in learning disorders can diagnose dysgraphia. This could be your child's school psychologist or education specialist. The specialist will give your child academic and writing tests that measure their ability to put thoughts into words and their fine motor skills. For instance, they may be asked to tap their fingers or turn their wrist a certain way.
Your child also may be asked to write sentences or copy words and letters. The specialist will look at their:
- Finished work
- Hand and body position
- Pencil grip
- Posture
- Writing process
Dysgraphia tests
There are several tests that your child's psychologist or education specialist may want your child to do. Which reading and writing tests they choose depends on your child's age and ability and what the specialist is looking for. These are some of the more frequently used tests to diagnose dysgraphia:
- Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration
- Process Assessment of the Learner-II
- Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
- Test of Written Language-4
- Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing
- Concise Evaluation Scale for Children's Handwriting
- Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test
Dysgraphia Treatment
There's no cure for dysgraphia. Treatment varies from child to child and depends on whether they have any other learning disabilities or health conditions. Medication used to treat ADHD has helped with dysgraphia in some kids who have both conditions.
How Can I Help My Child?
It can take some trial-and-error to find things that might help your child, so it's important to try different approaches. Here are some things you can try:
- Have your child use wide-ruled paper, graph paper, or paper with raised lines to help with letter and word alignment.
- Try pencil grips or other writing aids for comfort.
- Let them use a computer to type instead of write, and teach typing skills early.
- Don't criticize sloppy work. Praise their hard work and offer positive reinforcement.
- Acknowledge the condition and talk to your child about it.
- Teach them ways to relieve stress before writing. For example, have them shake or rub their hands together quickly.
- Let them squeeze a stress ball to improve hand-muscle strength and coordination.
Talk to your child's teacher about their condition and needs at school. They may qualify for special education services and an Individualized Education Program or other special assistance (such as a 504 plan). These documents detail your child's needs and give the school ways to help them.
Some things you might ask for include:
- Shorter writing assignments or different questions from their classmates
- Use of a computer to type instead of writing
- Copies of the class notes to limit writing work
- Use of a voice-to-dictation machine or another electronic notetaker
- An option to record the teacher's lectures
- Video or audio reports instead of written homework assignments
- Oral instead of written exams
Takeaways
Dysgraphia is a learning disorder that affects how someone writes words on paper. Some forms of dysgraphia make it hard to do the actual writing, while other make it hard to figure out how to spell them. There's no treatment for dysgraphia but early diagnosis may help you help your child adapt.
Dysgraphia FAQs
How does dysgraphia affect math?
Dysgraphia can affect the ability to do math, especially if you have trouble with writing math symbols and numbers. Many math problems are word problems or need written explanations, and someone with dysgraphia might not be able to do them well or quickly. Spatial difficulties can also make math hard.
Can dysgraphia be fixed?
Dysgraphia can't be fixed or treated, but typing instead of writing, having longer time to write things out, and other accommodations can make it easier for some people with dysgraphia.
Is dysgraphia a form of ADHD?
No, dysgraphia isn't a form of ADHD.
What triggers dysgraphia?
Doctors don't know yet what causes or triggers dysgraphia. Dysgraphia does run in some families, so there might be a genetic link.
Do kids outgrow dysgraphia?
Children don't outgrow dysgraphia, but with support, they might learn how to adapt their environment so they can manage. It's important that dysgraphia be diagnosed early and interventions started as soon as possible to help children learn what works best for them.
