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What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is usually diagnosed in childhood, often when a teacher, parent, or other caregiver has noticed that the child in question has sustained difficulty with writing coherently.
The symptoms of dysgraphia can include:
- Poor spelling and incorrect use of capitals
- Inappropriate mixture of cursive and print letters
- Problems with spacing and sizing letters correctly
- Difficulty accurately copying words
- Writing slowly and with obvious difficulty
- Struggling to visualise words prior to writing them.
- Maintaining an unusual and uncomfortable-appearing position while writing
- Holding the writing implement very tightly while writing, resulting in cramps
- Watching one’s hand closely while writing
- Saying the words aloud while writing
- Leaving out essential letters and words when writing sentences
- Writing in such a way that the words or sentences have a strange “slant” on the page
- Struggling with creative writing; finding it difficult to think and write at the same time
This condition is often present in children who also have other issues, ranging from ADHD to speech impairment and learning disabilities such as dyslexia. Also, because children with dysgraphia often struggle at school, they can experience profound feelings of frustration, which can in turn lead to acting out and behavioural issues that can contribute to a generally negative attitude towards learning.
Because dysgraphia is not linked to overall intellectual ability, and because it is specifically associated with writing, it is generally not diagnosed until the child has been in school for a number of years and is consistently behind their peers in their writing ability. While it is typically diagnosed in childhood, it can persist throughout life, especially if the person in question does not get the help and support they need to manage it.
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What causes Dysgraphia?
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Assessment & Fees
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HOW CAN I GET AN ASSESSMENT FOR DYSGRAPHIA?
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References
