Dysgraphia is a neurological condition that impairs writing ability & fine motor skills.

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Dysgraphia is more than “bad handwriting” & causes struggles with turning thoughts into written language at the same level of complexity as peers.

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Early signs of Dysgraphia include:

 

• Struggles to space words & letters out on paper or does so inconsistently

• Frequent erasing

• Poor spelling

• Unusual grip of pen/pencil and wrist position to write

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Although, Dysgraphia normally presents itself in early childhood, it can occur at any age or be as a result of a traumatic brain injury.

 

Like many other neurological or developmental conditions a child can appear to be a “lazy” or “not trying hard enough” to an uninformed teacher or parent.

 

Dysgraphia is considered a Specific Learning Disability alongside Dyslexia & Dyscalculia in the DSM-5.

 

Dysgraphia commonly occurs alongside Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Autism, ADHD & Sensory Processing Disorder.

 

Handwriting may also be affected by Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) commonly known as Dyspraxia & working memory problems seen in ADHD.

 

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Diagnosis Criteria according to DSM-5:

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A person must have experienced the following for at least 6 months, persistent difficulties in reading, writing, arithmetic or mathematical reasoning skills.

 

Academic skills in reading, writing & maths below average.

 

Learning difficulty start during school age years.

 

Difficulties that “significantly interfere with academic achievement, occupational performance or actvities of daily living” & cannot be “better explained by developmental, neurological, sensory or motor disorders”

 

Accommodations May Include:

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• Spacing, lined or graph paper to help with spacing of letters & words

• Voice to text technology

• Ability to use a tablet to type work instead of writing

• Take pictures of whiteboard for information or homework to avoid having to copy it , alternatively provide written materials

• Pen or pencil grips

• Cursive writing exemption

• Extra time for written work

• Ability to audio record class discussions instead of note taking

• Adaptions for tests like multiple choice

• Quiet space for tests/exams

• Break writing tasks into smaller chunks with a break in between

• Allowances made for spelling errors & student not penalised

• Skip lines when writing

• Use of paperclip to help space words out

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References:

Undivided

Sensing Greatness