Dysgraphia is one of dyslexia’s lesser-known co-occuring conditions. Indeed, it’s often assumed to be part of dyslexia itself – as somebody struggles to read sometimes, it might make sense to assume that they might struggle with writing and transcription too. But this is actually part of another condition called dysgraphia, and we’re here to take a quick look at just what is dysgraphia, and what it might mean for someone who has it.
What dysgraphia isn’t
Dysgraphia isn’t usually thought of as trouble expressing your thoughts in writing and articulating what you want to say on the page – struggling with that kind of task actually falls under a learning disability called ‘Written Expression Disorder’, which you can learn about at Understood.org.
The terms aren’t interchangeable- but there is some crossover between the two in their practical usage and what aspects of a writing difficulty they cover. Dysgraphia is generally considered the broader of the two terms and it’s sometimes used to describe a wide range of writing challenges, but it’s often used to refer to more logistical handwriting issues such as letter or word formation. There’s a better breakdown of the ideas here.
What dysgraphia is
Dysgraphia is a specific learning disorder that’s focused on difficulties producing written language. In the past, the term dysgraphia was used to refer to both motor and co-ordination difficulties affecting somebody’s writing skills, as well as a difficulty in expressing thoughts in writing due to weaknesses in literacy and/or language conventions (such as spelling, punctuation and grammatical rule). It’s not actually an officially recognised condition any more by way of one of the most commonly-used Western systems of examining neurodiversity and mental health conditions, the DSM-5, however people still use the term to talk about their difficulties with written expression.
Who can have Dysgraphia?
Anybody, really. Dysgraphia, like dyslexia, is heritable – that means it runs in families. It’s also a lifelong condition which means it can’t be outgrown.
Between 4% and 20% of children are thought to have dysgraphia, and around half of the people who display symptoms of ADD/ADHD appear to have dysgraphia too. It’s not actually clear the amount of people with dyslexia who also have dysgraphia, but it’s thought to be relatively high.
Dysgraphia can look like…
✍️ Unclear, irregular or inconsistent handwriting
✍️ Different slants, shapes and upper- and lower-case lettering in one page
✍️ Struggles with cursive writing
✍️ Slow writing and copying skills
✍️ Cramped grip and poor pen posture
✍️ Difficulty spacing things out on paper or within margins (poor spatial planning)
✍️ Frequent erasing and starting again
✍️ Inconsistent letter and word spacing
✍️ ‘Sketching’ letters – treating them as a drawing task rather than forming them in one fluid motion
✍️ Poor spelling, including unfinished words and missing words and letters
✍️ Unusual wrist, body or paper position when writing
✍️ Stress in writing-heavy environments (English class, written exams)
✍️ Aversion to writing tasks (perhaps demonstrated by disengagement or disruptive behaviour)
✍️ Pickiness in which writing implements to use
✍️ Difficulty forming ‘bubble letters’ or stylised titles
✍️ Fine motion problems that present outside writing, i.e. catching a ball or painting
✍️ Ambidextrous tendencies, having no leading hand
✍️ Frustration that sentences never seem to 'come out right' on the page
What’s diagnosis like?
As dysgraphia isn’t in the DSM any more, diagnostic procedure differs based on what aspects of the condition that you demonstrate. It’s important to look into diagnosis if you do think either you or a child in your care demonstrates aspects of the condition, however – it could mean that it makes it easier to access the help that might make a difference in your daily life. It may mean extra support in the classroom or the workplace, or even in exams and testing.
Like being diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD/ADD and any number of other conditions, it varies based on where you are in the world. Tests like this one from Lexercise can help you determine whether you or somebody in your care is demonstrating symptoms of dysgraphia, and make it easier to work out if you might need to pursue an official diagnosis – but these aren’t a substitute for an official diagnosis from a professional. See these kinds of test more as a starting point, or a symptom checklist. Another great place to start is your schools – your educators might have experience in dysgraphia and be able to have an illuminating conversation with parents and carers who think that the children and young people in their care might have dysgraphia. There might also be the opportunity to gain some insight from your school councillor or your SENCO, as they’ll probably have encountered learners who have dysgraphia before.
The next step is looking towards specialist occupational therapists, educational psychologists and SpLD assessors. Your local education authority, school board and school district hub will probably be able to point you in the right direction and to a list of approved sources. Failing that, your local dyslexia association might be able to make a list of recommendations.
Diagnosis is usually done via an investigative interview and handwriting assessment, although again, this might vary based on where you are, what symptoms are apparent, and who’s completing your assessment. When you’ve got your diagnosis, whether it says dysgraphia, written expression disorder, or something else, it’s important to return to all your school or workplace with the news, too – accomodations and arrangements all start with diagnosis, and they’re important for making sure that you’re supported in whatever you want to do.
