What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder of written expression. It is a learning disability that affects children and adults interfering with skills like handwriting, typing, and spelling. It can also impact the capacity to translate ideas into language.
Although it is estimated that 5-20% of children have Dysgraphia it should not be confused with poor handwriting. Dysgraphia is more serious and generally appears when children are first learning to write. Each case is unique, and experts are not always sure what the causes are, but early treatment can help prevent or reduce problems.
Writing requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills. Not only does it require the ability to organize and express ideas in the mind. It also requires the ability to use the muscles in the hands and fingers to form those ideas, letter by letter, on paper.
Dysgraphia that is caused by a language disorder may be characterized by the person having difficulty converting the sounds of language into written form (phonemes into graphemes) or knowing which alternate spelling to use for each sound. A person with Dysgraphia may write their letters in reverse, have trouble recalling how letters are formed, or when to use lower- or upper-case letters. A person with Dysgraphia may struggle to form written sentences with correct grammar and punctuation, with common problems including omitting words, words ordered incorrectly, incorrect verb and pronoun usage and word ending errors. People with Dysgraphia may speak more easily and fluently than they write.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSGRAPHIA
● Trouble forming letters shapes
● Cramped or unusual grip of the writing instrument, especially holding the writing instrument very close to the paper, or holding thumb over two fingers and writing from the wrist
● Difficulty following a line or staying in margins
● Avoids writing tasks
● Omitting words
● Trouble with grammar and sentence structure with writing, but not when speaking.
● use a limited range of words that does not match their spoken vocabulary
SUPPORTING PEOPLE WITH DYSGRAPHIA
There are many ways to help people with Dysgraphia achieve success. When working with children or older learners with Dysgraphia.
1. Keep writing tasks brief. Depending on the severity of the diagnosis, writing tasks can be draining as they require a lot of focus. It could be better to write less, but to focus more on the quality of the letters and structure of the sentence. Frequent breaks to get up and walk around the room could also be of benefit and prevent the exercise from being too draining.
2. Try typing on the computer. Computer programs can be used to help reinforce spelling and grammar. In addition, typing requires less of a physical effort and can bypass motor difficulties that come with pencil and pen use.
3. Work on improving grip. Larger pencils and special grips on the pencil can improve writing outcomes. Experiment with different writing utensils and see what works best.
TREATMENT
Dysgraphia is often a lifelong condition that is likely to be comorbid with other disorders, like ADHD. Treatment focuses on interventions, accommodations, and special services. Thorough testing, detection and early interventions could reduce severity. Psychologists are able to assess if a person has Dysgraphia and can provide recommendations for support if a person has Dysgraphia caused by a language disorder. Students with learning disorders like Dysgraphia are eligible for special services in the classroom. Adults with Dysgraphia can implement several fixes in the workplace on their own, or after communicating with management.
RESOURCES
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-dysgraphia
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7082241/
https://dyslexiaida.org/understanding-dysgraphia/
