What is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that generally appears when children are first learning to write. Dysgraphia is a recognised specific learning disability that affects written expression. It is a hidden disability that many people and professionals don’t know about. Dysgraphia can be language based or non-language based and appears to affect spelling, poor handwriting and having trouble putting thoughts on paper for the individual affected.

It is unclear what causes it. It affects boys more than girls, about 75% of those diagnosed are boys. Unfortunately it also very poorly researched. It is thought that anywhere between 5-20% of students are affected by Dysgraphia.

Dysgraphia commonly occurs with other disabilities e.g. Autism, ASD – Asperger’s Syndrome, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, or Dyscalculia. There is generally thought to be five types of Dysgraphia (see below).

Dysgraphia that is language based may be characterised by:

1. Difficulty converting the sounds of language into written form (phonemes into graphemes)
2. Knowing which alternate spelling to use for each sound
3. Writing letters in reverse
4. Trouble recalling how letters are formed, or when to use lower or upper case letters
5. Struggle to form written sentences with correct grammar and punctuation
6. Omitting words
7. Words ordered incorrectly
8. Incorrect verb and pronoun usage and word ending errors
9. May speak more easily and fluently than they write

Non-language based Dysgraphia is caused by difficulties performing the controlled fine motor skills required to write.

Unlike Dyslexia, which affects language processing, people with Dysgraphia have a difficulty in the way their mind processes motor skills and information.

Signs Of Dysgraphia

These are more general signs of dysgraphia. For more specific ones related to the 5 types see below.

1. Illegible writing
2. Mixtures of printing and cursive writing
3. Letters may be a mixed between upper and lower case, irregular sizes, shapes, or slanted
4. Unfinished words or letters
5. Omitted words
6. Inconsistent position of letters on the page and spaces between words and letters
7. Cramped or unusual grip of pen or pencil
8. Strange wrist, body, or paper position
9. May talk while writing
10. May pay particular attention to the hand they are writing with
11. Slow or laboured copying or writing
12. Large gap between what the person can write down and what they know
13. Difficulty organising thoughts on paper

5 Types of Dysgraphia And Their Characteristics:

1 Dyslexic Dysgraphia

• Writing is sometimes illegible
• Writing is legible when copied
• Poor spelling
• Does not necessarily coincide with Dyslexia but they may be co-morbidity

2 Motor Dysgraphia

• Below average fine motor skills
• Weak dexterity
• Unexplained clumsiness
• Illegible handwriting
• Poor grip of pen/pencil
• Poor letter formation
• Spelling ability is not impaired

3 Spatial Dysgraphia

• Difficulty understand spacing between words
• Handwriting may be illegible
• Struggles with writing on lined paper

 4 Phonological Dysgraphia

• Poor writing
• Poor spelling particularly around unknown words
• Struggles to memorise phonemes (distinct units of sound in a language)
• Decoding words becomes difficult

 5 Lexical Dysgraphia

• Average spelling ability when sound patterns are known
• Most commonly occurs in English speaking children as the language is less phonetic than most
• A very rare form of Dysgraphia

Characteristics Parents Might Notice In Their Child:

1. Limited written language, even with clear instruction and no time pressure
2. Poorly formed letters, omitted words or letters in a word
3. Letters that are inconsistent in size, spacing, and distance from the line on the page
4. Difficulty organising their thoughts on to paper
5. Having a spoken language that significantly surpasses written abilities
6. Tendency to hold their pen/pencil in an unusual way
7. Slow, incomplete note-taking or copying
8. Complaints of hand or wrist pain after writing
9. Avoids writing
10. May speak out loud while writing

How Is Dysgraphia Diagnosed?

An Educational psychologist will be required to diagnose this disability. They will usually ask the child’s school for a report on the child’s work, samples of the child’s work especially written work will also be required. The child’s parent will also be asked to meet the psychologist and give their experience of their child’s difficulties.

The Educational psychologist will use a series of tests to determine the child’s disability and if it is language based Dysgraphia or non language based. Your child may also need to see an Occupational Therapists who can identify problems with mechanical based Dysgraphia (motor based skills). Both of these experts will offer suggestions, treatment and accommodations your child needs. These will also include how you and the school can help your child.

Remember this is a recognised disability and therefore covered by various educational and disability legislation. Your child has rights and entitlements you need to learn these and all you can about your child’s type of Dysgraphia.

Some Ways To Support A Child With Dysgraphia 

There are many ways to help someone with Dysgraphia in school/college and these generally strategies fall into three categories:

Accommodations: providing alternatives to written expression.

Modifications: changing expectations or tasks to minimise or avoid the area of weakness

Remediation: providing instruction for improving handwriting and writing skills.

Whatever the recommended strategies from the child’s report, the person planning instruction and support should always play to the child’s strengths. Examples of activities that may help:

1. Use pencil grips and writing aids
2. Incorporating technology
3. Write letters out bigger than they would usually be
4. Using different materials instead of a pen/pencil e.g. finger paint, sand, clay
5. Practice pinching things (increases fine motor strength)
6. Encourage speaking first before writing (allows child to get their thoughts and ideas together before writing them down
7. Trace letters on the child’s back or palm so that they can ‘feel’ the way the letters are written.

The earlier the intervention the better.

But it is never too late for assistance to be implemented. Having a disability can be particularly hard on someone when it is a hidden one and they are not receiving the treatment they need.

The longer it is left undiagnosed the more it will affect their mental health as they don’t understand what is wrong and can feel like a failure.  While with the correct diagnoses and treatment the child can get the most out of their education, begin to enjoy learning and going to school again.

How Parents Can Help

There are plenty of ways in which you can help your child. Being organised is one way, and you do need to be organised. I talk about why and how here. (Don’t skip reading this)

1. Be consistent in your parenting first and foremost. You don’t need to treat them differently than your other children.
2. Stop Feeling Guilty, easier said than done so check out the blog linked here. Remember it’s not the end of yours or your child’s life. You didn’t do anything wrong nor did your child. The child will pick up on your feelings and it will affect them. 
3. Yes, you will grieve it’s a normal part of this. So seek professional advice or help if needed.
4. Your child will live with this for the rest of their lives. It’s not a disease, so it’s not curable! Don’t buy into the fads!
5. Find out what Dysgraphia is, try DAI Ireland as a starting point. Or a similar organization near you for more information. 
6. Find out what it means for your child. Don’t get bogged down in their report/assessment. It can be very intimidating. Just concentrate on the summary and recommendations, usually on the last page.
7. Find out your child’s rights and entitlements with regard to their disability. Remember it’s covered by disability and education legislation. Make a note of these and know them. They do come in handy if you have to fight to get accommodations or assistance for your child.
8. Ask for help for you and your child. See if there is a support group on social media or in person in your locality. Talking to other parents is key for you. Meeting others with dysgraphia is also vital for your child’s self-esteem.

Dealing with schools

1. Speak to the school to make sure they are putting in to place an IEP (Individual education plan). Don’t assume they have done so. You should get a copy (remember I said you need to be organised). Make an appointment to see their teacher if they have only one. If not ask to speak to the Year Head (Secondary/High School). Take someone with you who can take notes or ask questions. Make sure you have a list of questions written down you may want to ask.
2. Bring a copy of your child’s report to the meeting. If they are already having resource hours try to see both teachers at the same time. If the school got the educational assessment done then ask for a copy of the report, you are entitled to one. Always keep these until a new one is completed. You will need them at various stages to get accommodations in state exams or assistance.
3. It’s your job to help build your child’s self-esteem, so make home a safe place. Don’t focus too much on the negative. But always emphasise the positive skills and attributes they have.
4. Teach your child to self-advocate. As they get older they will need to be able to do this. So by the time they go to college they can handle talking to and getting resources by themselves quite comfortable. Remember to teach them they can have an advocate present in any meeting, they are never alone.

Assessment of Need (Ireland)

Parents of any child born after 1st June 2002 may apply to the HSE for an Assessment of Need under the Disability Act if they think that their child may have a disability. If your child has more complex learning or developmental needs, you can also apply to the HSE for an Assessment of Need.

Following the assessment, parents receive an Assessment Report stating their child’s needs and the services required to meet those needs. From the 1st June 2018 a young person aged over 16 years can apply for an Assessment of Need.

More information about the Assessment of Need is available on the HSE website at: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/disability/disability-assessment/

Further Support

I talk more about how you can help your child with a disability in my 3 part series on Dyslexia. All the suggestions can be used to help your child with Dysgraphia. For more support for Dysgraphia you can also contact: www.Dyslexia.ie  and http://specialneedsparents.ie/ Ireland

Work With Me.

Remember you are allowed to ask for support. No one is an island. If you need extra support then you can also work with me. We all struggle with stress and overwhelm from time to time. If you find this has become a problem for you and you’d like some support then schedule an appointment with me.