Dysgraphia is a learning disorder that affects writing skills. It can manifest itself in spelling difficulties, poor handwriting, and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Because writing requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills, To say that a student has dysgraphia problems would not be enough.
A student with a written expression disorder will benefit from specific adaptations in the learning environment, as well as require additional practice to learn the skills needed in writing. Many people have bad handwriting, but the dysgraphia is more serious. Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that usually appears when children are learning to write.
Experts aren't sure what causes it, but early treatment can help prevent or reduce problems. Dysgraphia can be caused by a language disorder that can be characterized when the person has difficulties in converting the sounds of the language into written form -phonemes and graphemes- or knowing which letter to use in each sound.
A person with dysgraphia can write words in reverse, has trouble remembering letter shapes or when to use uppercase and lowercase letters. A person with dysgraphia may have difficulty forming written sentences with correct grammar and following punctuation marks well. In addition, they can also omit words, misorder words, misstate verb tenses, or use pronouns incorrectly in written form. These people can speak more easily and fluently than when they write.
What are the red flags of dysgraphia?
Just having bad handwriting doesn't mean that a person has dysgraphia. Dysgraphia is a processing disorder. Difficulties can change throughout a person's life. However, since writing is a developmental process, children can learn the motor skills necessary to write, while learning the thinking skills necessary to communicate on paper, they can continue to exist, although with a good job they can be of lesser extent.
If a person has problems in any of the following areas, they will need additional help, best from a psychopedagogue, to improve in the aspects of writing:
- Squeeze the pencil awkwardly
- Poor body position when writing
- Illegible handwriting
- Avoid writing or drawing tasks
- Say the words out loud while typing
- Leave words unfinished or omit sentences
- Difficulty organizing thoughts on paper
- Difficulty writing syntax and grammar
- There is a large gap between written ideas and understanding demonstrated through speech
- Inconsistent position of page letters relative to lines and margins
- Inconsistent spaces between words and letters
How to know if it is dysgraphia?
Educational psychologists or educational psychologists use a series of tests to determine whether a person has dysgraphia or not. Once you know for sure then you can assess a specific job with the person who has the costume.
How to help a person with dysgraphia
There are many ways to help a person with dysgraphia and greatly improve this difficulty. Generally, strategies to help people with this problem are based on three categories:
- Alternatives: provide alternatives to written expression, such as allowing children to have oral exams.
- Modifications: provide changes in expectations or tasks to minimize or avoid difficulties
- Solutions: provide instructions for improving writing and writing skills.
Each strategy should be considered in planning instruction and supporting the person with dysgraphia. Likewise, a person with dysgraphia will benefit from the help of specialists and those closest to them. The support of both professionals and loved ones is very important so that your self-esteem is not harmed and you can improve in your written condition.
If you think you may suffer from dysgraphia, it is best that you go to a specialist in learning and learning disorders such as educational psychologists or psychopedagogues to improve.