What Is Dysgraphia?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisManaging Dysgraphia

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types

Symptoms

Causes

Diagnosis

Managing Dysgraphia

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Do you ever sit down to write something but feel like your hand and brain are just not communicating with one another? If you have dysgraphia, you might feel like your mind and hand are on two different wavelengths. It’s not just messy handwriting or struggling to form letters (although those are key symptoms, too). It’s also about struggling to create coherent text, having problems with grammar, and difficulty with spelling.

Dysgraphia, also known as a disorder of written expression, is a type oflearning disorder.It can make it hard for the person to write as well as other people of their age and education level.It is a neurological condition that can affect a person’s ability to write letters and numerals.

Writing is a complex task that involves many parts of thebrain. Dysgraphia tends to be a catch-all phrase for any issues related to writing.However, someone with dysgraphia may struggle with several tasks and skills, including penmanship, spelling, grammar, punctuation, paragraph composition, reading, and math.

At a GlanceIf writing is a struggle, there’s a chance that you might have dysgraphia. It may occur during childhood, but it can also appear following neurological damage. Signs that you or your child might be experiencing this neurological condition include problems with forming letters (including issues with sizing and spacing) as well as issues with spelling, grammar, legibility, and grammar. Diagnosing the condition often involves using handwriting assessments, visual and motor skills tests, and educational assessments. While there’s no medication to treat the condition, it can be effectively managed using accommodations, curriculum modifications, and educational interventions.

At a Glance

If writing is a struggle, there’s a chance that you might have dysgraphia. It may occur during childhood, but it can also appear following neurological damage. Signs that you or your child might be experiencing this neurological condition include problems with forming letters (including issues with sizing and spacing) as well as issues with spelling, grammar, legibility, and grammar. Diagnosing the condition often involves using handwriting assessments, visual and motor skills tests, and educational assessments. While there’s no medication to treat the condition, it can be effectively managed using accommodations, curriculum modifications, and educational interventions.

Types of Dysgraphia

These are the two types of dysgraphia:

Developmental Dysgraphia

This form of dysgraphia affects children and is often identified when children start learning how to write in school.Dysgraphia can affect the child’s ability tolearn, despite exposure to adequate education and instruction.

It is estimated that 7% to 15% of school-age children exhibit some form of difficulty with writing.

Acquired Dysgraphia

This form of dysgraphia affects people who have experienced some form of neurological damage. As a result, they may start to have difficulty with writing, even if they are educated adults and were once able to write with ease.

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Symptoms of Dysgraphia

Someone with dysgraphia may face difficulty with the following tasks:

What Does Dysphraphia Look Like?

As a result, the person may exhibit the following symptoms:

The Broader Effects of DysgraphiaA 2018 study notes that dysgraphia can have broader detrimental effects.For instance, people who are struggling to write may experience extreme frustration, distress, lowself-esteem, and difficulty socializing.The study notes that children with dysgraphia may learn and absorb less information if all their focus is on trying to write properly. Adults may face limitations in career choices and professional advancement, as many everyday tasks require writing skills.

The Broader Effects of Dysgraphia

A 2018 study notes that dysgraphia can have broader detrimental effects.For instance, people who are struggling to write may experience extreme frustration, distress, lowself-esteem, and difficulty socializing.The study notes that children with dysgraphia may learn and absorb less information if all their focus is on trying to write properly. Adults may face limitations in career choices and professional advancement, as many everyday tasks require writing skills.

A 2018 study notes that dysgraphia can have broader detrimental effects.For instance, people who are struggling to write may experience extreme frustration, distress, lowself-esteem, and difficulty socializing.

The study notes that children with dysgraphia may learn and absorb less information if all their focus is on trying to write properly. Adults may face limitations in career choices and professional advancement, as many everyday tasks require writing skills.

What Causes Dysgraphia?

The causes of dysgraphia can vary depending on the type of condition:

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Diagnosing Dysgraphia

The mental health diagnostic manual, known as the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition” (DSM-5-TR), lists dysgraphia under the specific learning disorder category. Still, it doesn’t define it as a separate health condition with its own set of symptoms, which can make it difficult to diagnose.

While there aren’t any medical tests that can help diagnose dysgraphia, the diagnostic process involves other tests and assessments, such as:

While there aren’t any medications or procedures that can treat dysgraphia, developmental dysgraphia can be managed witheducational interventionsthat can vary depending on the extent of impairment the child faces:

Accommodation

Accommodations help make tasks easier and help kids better learn what is being taught. The child participates in mainstream education with assistive or supportive resources but without changing the content of the curriculum. This might include letting someone type rather than handwriting, using speech-to-text tools, or providing extra time to do written assignments.

Modification

Remediation

Remediation involves specific strategies to gradually improve a person’s writing skills and abilities over time. The child’s school offers specific interventions to help them cope with the severity of their dysgraphia. This might involve occupational therapy to improve fine motor skills and writing programs that can increase fluency and writing confidence.

When to Seek HelpWhile all children occasionally struggle with writing and learning-related tasks, the symptoms of dysgraphia become more prominent as writing-related tasks increase. If you suspect your child may have dysgraphia or a learning disorder, seek help for them as soon as possible. It’s important to work with their healthcare providers and educators to help them cope.

When to Seek Help

While all children occasionally struggle with writing and learning-related tasks, the symptoms of dysgraphia become more prominent as writing-related tasks increase. If you suspect your child may have dysgraphia or a learning disorder, seek help for them as soon as possible. It’s important to work with their healthcare providers and educators to help them cope.

Takeaways

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that can be difficult to live with. If you or a loved one have dysgraphia, you may notice that in addition to making writing difficult, it can also be deeply frustrating and demotivating. It may be helpful to see a mental healthcare provider to cope with the distressing effects of the condition andimprove self-confidence.

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8 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Dysgraphia.Medline Plus.West Texas A&M University.Dysgraphia.Learning Disabilities Association of America.Dysgraphia.Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01University of Rochester Medical Center.Dysgraphia.Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysgraphia.McCloskey M, Rapp B.Developmental dysgraphia: An overview and framework for research.Cogn Neuropsychol. 2017;34(3-4):65-82. doi:10.1080/02643294.2017.1369016

8 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Library of Medicine.Dysgraphia.Medline Plus.West Texas A&M University.Dysgraphia.Learning Disabilities Association of America.Dysgraphia.Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01University of Rochester Medical Center.Dysgraphia.Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysgraphia.McCloskey M, Rapp B.Developmental dysgraphia: An overview and framework for research.Cogn Neuropsychol. 2017;34(3-4):65-82. doi:10.1080/02643294.2017.1369016

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Library of Medicine.Dysgraphia.Medline Plus.West Texas A&M University.Dysgraphia.Learning Disabilities Association of America.Dysgraphia.Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01University of Rochester Medical Center.Dysgraphia.Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysgraphia.McCloskey M, Rapp B.Developmental dysgraphia: An overview and framework for research.Cogn Neuropsychol. 2017;34(3-4):65-82. doi:10.1080/02643294.2017.1369016

National Library of Medicine.Dysgraphia.Medline Plus.

West Texas A&M University.Dysgraphia.

Learning Disabilities Association of America.Dysgraphia.

Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I.Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: Definition, diagnosis, and management.Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01

University of Rochester Medical Center.Dysgraphia.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Dysgraphia.

McCloskey M, Rapp B.Developmental dysgraphia: An overview and framework for research.Cogn Neuropsychol. 2017;34(3-4):65-82. doi:10.1080/02643294.2017.1369016

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