If you recognize some of these symptoms in your child, read on! Compensation is the First StepĬompensation means helping your child “work around” his handwriting issues so he can still continue to learn. Trouble with tasks that require concurrent thinking and writing.Difficulty organizing thoughts on paper.Trouble aligning columns of numbers in math problems.Difficulty following spelling and grammar rules.Incorrect spacing and positioning of letters, words, and lines of written text.Writing is illegible, inconsistent, and has poorly formed letters and numbers.Here are some additional signs of dysgraphia: Simply put, dysgraphia makes the process of writing quite difficult, so a child with dysgraphia often has a much easier time expressing ideas verbally than in writing. Organizing thoughts and ideas into written expression.In general, a child with dysgraphia may have trouble with the following: Symptoms of DysgraphiaĪs with most learning challenges, the symptoms of dysgraphia can range from mild to severe, and the symptoms may vary in the way they show up in children of different ages. If so, you have probably experienced firsthand the frustration, anger, and anxiety that dysgraphia can cause.
For example, does your child avoid Scouts or clubs because he may be asked to fill out forms? Is he hesitant to participate in any activity that involves writing, even something as simple as signing his own name? Has he been teased because of childish penmanship? A child with dysgraphia may also appear to be unmotivated or lazy, or what we sometimes refer to as a “reluctant writer.” Because he has trouble expressing his thoughts and ideas in writing, he may avoid writing altogether.ĭysgraphia can also make your child avoid seemingly normal situations. What Is Dysgraphia?Ī child with dysgraphia has handwriting that is worse than you would normally see in a child of his age, intelligence, and education level.īut dysgraphia isn’t just about messy papers. This post explains the signs and symptoms of dysgraphia and the steps you can take to help your child succeed in reading and spelling. Is your child struggling with handwriting? The cause may be more than just laziness or lack of motivation it could be a neurologically-based learning issue called dysgraphia.