What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a specific learning disability that affects a person’s handwriting ability and fine motor skills, as well as some cognitive functions.
It is important to obtain a diagnosis for your child, so they can start receiving early intervention and specialized support to overcome the challenges. Dysgraphia – like other learning disabilities – will not go away as the child ages.
Signs of dysgraphia:
Motor Challenges
- Consistent difficulty forming letters, including inconsistency in size and spacing
- Difficulty holding a pencil
- Writing fatigue
Cognitive Challenges
- Difficulties with writing mechanics, including spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence structure
- Challenges organizing their writing
Do you think your child might have dysgraphia?
Early intervention from an occupational therapist can help immensely, so it is important to obtain a diagnosis as soon as possible. Dysgraphia often co-occurs with other learning disabilities and ADHD.
WHAT IS ADHD?
Ask your pediatrician, your child’s school, or seek out private testing such as at Miriam Learning Center.
In the meantime, here are a few resources with ideas to start helping your child right away:
8 expert tips on helping your child with dysgraphia
What is Dysgraphia?