Types Of Dysgraphia, Causes And Treatments

Dysgraphy is a neurological disorder that impairs the ability to write. This includes the general mechanics of written transcription, ie handwriting, writing and spelling. In this article we will teach you about the different types of dysgraphia that exist.

According to estimates , 5-20% of young students have some form of writing difficulty, but the precise occurrence of dysgraphia is a mystery. Most children have difficulty writing, as it is a skill that requires learning and practice.

However, if a child’s handwriting is very cluttered or their ideas seem disorganized despite effort, they may have this disorder.

Today we will tell you all about the different types of dysgraphia as well as the causes and treatments.

What are the symptoms?

Dysgraphy hinders the ability to write, but it also changes the context of written words. This is because the ability to express concepts and ideas can become more labor intensive if the child has to focus all his attention on transcription. Therefore, it is a disorder that makes it difficult to master writing in general.

Understood.org shows us some of the most common signs of dysgraphia. Among them we find the following difficulties:

• Shape letters correctly.
• Place consistent spaces between the letters on the page.
• Write in a straight line.
• Keep the size of the letters homogenized throughout the text.
• Continuous erasure of written things.
• Complications of maintaining spelling patterns: This includes incomplete words, misspellings, and the absence or absence of letters.

In addition to the problems that we can observe on paper, the child’s attitude also says a lot about their writing ability. A child with dysgraphia holds the pencil in an unusual way, writes in strange positions or orients the paper poorly.

Types of dysgraphia

As stated by the website Special Needs , there are several types of dysgraphia. We will tell you about them in the following list:

• Dyslexic dysgraphia: The formation of spontaneous words is illegible, but one can usually understand copied sentences.
• Motor: Caused by lack of motor skills and muscle tone. Both copied and original sentences are usually illegible. Patients can form sentences, but it requires a lot of effort and dedication.

• Distance: As the name suggests, the child is not able to understand the concept of distance, so they put sentences together and have trouble maintaining line spacing and margins. However, the sentences are understandable and the letters follow a coherent order.
• Phonological: Consists of difficulty writing and spelling complex new words. These children are unable to remember phonemes.
• Lexical: A very rare form of dysgraphia where the person understands words that are spelled as they sound, but struggle with irregular words. It is more common in English and French.

What is the cause?

Finding the cause of dysgraphia in children can be a challenge. However, if one gets it in adulthood, it can be due to brain damage, tumors, strokes and other events involving the brain.

There are two main causes of dysgraphia in children, which are neurological and motor. The first case does not necessarily have to be serious, because sometimes certain small disturbances prevent the correct order, which makes it difficult for the child to communicate in writing. Experts have associated several pathologies with dysgraphia, such as ADHD.

Psychomotor or motor causes can be a little more sensitive, as several congenital diseases cause progressive muscular dystrophy, for example.

Diagnosis of the different types of dysgraphia

The website ADDitude, which specializes in ADHD, reveals that the diagnosis of dysgraphia is made in a standardized way through the evaluation of specific learning difficulties. In order for a child to meet the criteria, the following four pillars must be met:

1. Shows at least 6 of the standardized symptoms that hinder learning for at least 6 months.
2. Shows significantly reduced professional abilities compared to peers. This must make it difficult for the child to perform at school.
3. The difficulties must have started in the school environment, even though they become clearer in the work environment.
4. Other possible diseases, such as blindness, should be ruled out.

Treatment for the different types of dysgraphia

Dysgraphy is a condition that will follow children throughout life and has no cure. The approach, both at home and at school, is to encourage practice and skills development. However, the condition cannot be solved with medication or surgery.

Just because it’s permanent, does not mean it can not be improved. In these cases, occupational therapy is often recommended, where therapists will help the child to write better and take more effective positions. In addition , the school should offer special educational cycles according to the child’s needs.

Tips for improving handwriting

Finally, there are some tips that can be applied to a child with dysgraphia to make things easier for them. The LDonline.org website presents many options:

• Give the child a piece of paper with established lines, so that it is easier for them to follow a coherent structure when they write.
• Let the child try different types of pens and pencils until they find one they are comfortable with.
• Begin the writing process with the child by capturing ideas in the form of drawings and recordings.
• Teach your child different writing techniques and time forms. The child will be able to adapt to what is easiest for them.

• Reduce the task of copying sentences, as it is better to encourage autonomy and practice.

Dysgraphy is chronic, but it can be treated

Summarizing the special nature of dysgraphia with a few sentences is a challenge, since it is a very complex and varied clinical unit. If you have dysgraphia or your child shows signs of having it, we recommend that you review the pages we cited in this article, especially when it comes to the home approach.

Just because dysgraphia lasts a lifetime does not mean it cannot be treated. Therefore, therapy and practice will be the best allies for a child with dysgraphia. With patience and dedication, a person with this condition can achieve a certain degree of written autonomy.