Kids with dysgraphia have difficulty writing letters, words and numbers, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Dysgraphia is more than poor handwriting--it is a learning disability that causes poor handwriting. Children with dysgraphia struggle to perform a task that others find relatively simple. Parents and educators who understand dysgraphia and how it affects children can help kids learn to excel in spite of the challenge of a learning disability.
Causes of Dysgraphia
A lack of fine motor coordination is one cause of dysgraphia, according to the International Dyslexia Association. The brain functions responsible for the translation of ideas into written words do not interact well in children with dysgraphia. West Virginia University notes that students with dysgraphia have difficulty understanding and remembering the sequence of written language, words, letters, spelling and punctuation. Children with attention deficit disorder often have dysgraphia because of problems with organization, rapid information processing and fine motor coordination.
Symptoms in Young Children
Children with dysgraphia often avoid tasks that involve writing or drawing. According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, children with dysgraphia grip their pencils tightly and awkwardly. They have difficulty with spacing between words and letters, knowing when to use uppercase or lowercase letters and writing within margins or on lines. Their handwriting may include mixed cursive and print writing, incomplete words and sentences and poorly formed letters and shapes. They often speak out loud the words they are trying to write or have difficulty remembering words. Children with dysgraphia must concentrate so completely when writing that they seldom understand what they have written and often experience fatigue from the effort required.
Diagnosing Dysgraphia
The National Center for Learning Disabilities recommends seeing a qualified clinician to diagnose dysgraphia. The diagnostic test includes self-generated writing and copying written text. In addition to assessing the finished writing samples, the clinician evaluates several aspects of the child's writing process, including fine-motor speed, pencil grip, posture and level of fatigue.
Effects on Children
Dysgraphia affects children emotionally and academically. Children with dysgraphia have difficulty expressing ideas and completing assignments. They often become frustrated with their inability to perform well academically and with being mischaracterized as lazy or unintelligent. Copying text from the board can take a long time for a child with dysgraphia. The child's inability to control and synchronize the functions needed for written language often results in poor grades. Children with dysgraphia can become overcome with anger and frustration, leading to increasingly poor academic performance.
Helping Children with Dysgraphia
The National Center for Learning Disabilities recommends three strategies for helping children with dysgraphia: accommodation, modification and remediation. Early writers can benefit from helpful tools, such as paper with raised lines and a variety of pencils to help with the proper grip. The Center recommends early use of a word processor, but discourages elimination of handwriting. Start early to reinforce technique and memory and allow students to use the cursive or print writing style most comfortable for them. Allow extra time for writing, break assignments into smaller steps, allow time for proofreading and limit copying tasks. The center recommends allowing students with dysgraphia to demonstrate their knowledge through oral or visual methods.
