Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder.characterised by a deficiency in the ability to write, regardless of the ability to read but not due to intellectual impairment. It is one of the most common learning disability which most people have never heard of. It is generally hereditary and can be caused by mental retardation, psychosocial deprivation, or poor school attendance. Dysgraphia is also popularly known as Motorgraphia. Kids suffering from it are unable to write proper shaped and sized letters with proper spellings. They can also lack basic spelling skills (for example, having difficulties with the letters p, q, b, and d), and often will write the wrong word when trying to formulate thoughts They have very bad handwriting. A person facing this disorder lacks fine motor skills. However, they do not face any other academic problems. In fact, children facing dysgraphia may have better abilities in mathematics or in other related fields. It often does not affect all fine motor skills. During childhood, the disorder generally emerges when the child is first introduced to writing. The child may make inappropriately sized and spaced letters, or write wrong or misspelt words despite thorough instruction. Children with the disorder may have other learning disabilities, but they usually have no social or other academic problems.
Types of Dysgraphia
There are three types of Dysgraphia. These are:
- Dyslexia Dysgraphia: In this type of dysgraphia the children lack spelling skills but are able to write looking at the copy. Spontaneously written work is illegible and spelling is bad. It is not necessary that each person coping with dysgraphia will have dyslexia. Finger tapping speed which is a method for identifying fine motor problems is normal, indicating the deficit does not likely stem from cerebellar damage.
- Motor Dysgraphia: Children facing this disorder lack fine motor skills. They are unable to avoid mistakes while writing even if copied from another source. They also lack proper muscle tone. The pattern of writing is often slanted due to holding a pen or pencil incorrectly. Spelling skills are not impaired. Finger tapping speed results are below normal.
- Spatial Dysgraphia: In this children are unable to understand the spacing characteristics while writing. Sometimes too much space or sometimes no space can be seen between the words and letters. Such kids have illegible spontaneously written work, illegible copied work but normal spelling and normal tapping speed.
Symptoms of Dysgraphia
Some commonly observed symptoms of dysgraphia. These symptoms can be seen even after children have adequate knowledge and normal training.
- Very poor structure of words
- Mixing lower and upper-case letters
- Irregular letter sizes and shapes
- Incomplete words and lots of omitted words while writing
- Improper and an improper way of holding the pencil
- Disability of putting thoughts and ideas in writing
- The habit of speaking words while writing
- Disinterest in writing and drawing
- Experiencing pain while writing in rare cases
- Showing disturbance during the writing task
- Varying speed of writing in each case, either increased or decreased
How to Correct Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is not a permanent disorder. With some efforts and techniques, this disorder can be corrected. As dysgraphic children possess expertise in other fields, they have had the ability to cope with this disorder but with little guidance, support and hard work. Treatment for dysgraphia varies and may include treatment for motor disorders to help control writing movements. Other treatments may address impaired memory or other neurological problems. Some physicians recommend that individuals with dysgraphia use computers to avoid the problems of handwriting.
Occupational therapy could be considered to strengthen muscle tone, improve dexterity, and evaluate eye-hand coordination. Often small things can help students with dysgraphia, such as allowing them to use a preferred writing medium or allowing them to submit typewritten work instead of handwritten work.
Some Suggestions for Treating Dysgraphia
- Taking help of charts, big letters, speed writing and reading can prove to be helpful.
- Regular practice is required for children suffering from dysgraphia right from scratch.
- Using papers consisting of letters in dotted form is also beneficial. Children can overwrite and improve writing.
- One can also help the child to write by holding his or her hand while writing.
- Certain hand exercises to can also improve the finger grip.
- Parents should provide children with writing material that they like the most. They can also ask their child to type as this might increase interest in writing.
- Children should be provided with suitable writing material available in the market for improving their grip. Small pencils (a typical pencil cut in thirds) golf pencils or triangular shaped pencils all promote a functional grip
- Such children should be given extra time to complete their homework and exams. If the child is finding writing too difficult then a writer can be engaged. The child can dictate and copy it later on.
- Meditation is another method which helps to make the mind stable. This will also help increase the concentration and reduce frustration while writing. Meditation will help the child to increase the focus on writing. Encouragement should be given to them for performing such activities at an early stage.
- Though writing is essential for a child can prosper in fields like acting, sports, music etc. Parents should understand their children's strengths and weaknesses and help him or her to work on it and make his own path in this world.
