If your child has significant challenges with writing, they may suffer from dysgraphia. Difficulties with writing can hinder a student’s success in a number of subjects. Common signs of dysgraphia include the following:
Spatial Production
- Uneven spaces between words and letters are present
- Difficulty staying on provided horizontal lines
- Others struggle to read the child’s writing
- Challenges with forming letters and words
- Letters and words are excessively large
Expressive Language
- Clear limitations in vocabulary
- Struggles to put ideas into words
- Sentence structure is overly simplistic
- Poor spelling
- Grammatical deficits
Graphomotor Output
- Struggles to correctly hold writing utensils
- Presses too hard/soft while writing
- Letters and words are excessively small
- Clear preference for print over cursive
Attitude
- Actively avoids writing
- Becomes anxious while writing
- Has no interest in writing
If you or others recognize a number of these symptoms in your child, an evaluation with a neuropsychologist can help determine whether your child has dysgraphia. Proper diagnosis is integral to helping your child succeed.
Reference:
Miller, D., & Maricle, D. (2019). Essentials of school neuropsychological assessment (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.