Dysgraphia Vs. Dyslexia

If your child has difficulty translating their thoughts into written language, they may
have dysgraphia, a relatively common learning disability. The bad news is that it is a
lifelong condition whose cause is unknown. The good news is that dysgraphia is
manageable; children can learn writing strategies and produce writing that is
indistinguishable from others.

Dysgraphia describes individuals who have trouble creating written communication
despite their ability to form oral language. It can strike children or adults, but is more
common in males than females.

Dysgraphia Vs. Dyslexia, ADHD and Autism

Dysgraphia is a neurological condition, like dyslexia, ADHD and autism. It is not related to these conditions, but is common in children who have them. At Trident Academy, the school for dyslexic children in Charleston, SC, many students also struggle with ADHD and dysgraphia. The school’s specialized education addresses all three conditions.
Children whose dysgraphia appears when they are learning to write are said to have
developmental dysgraphia while individuals who develop it as the result of a traumatic brain injury are said to have acquired dysgraphia.
Writing is a complex process that requires a multitude of skills, any one of which may be lacking in children with dysgraphia. They are often challenged to recognize the rules of writing, such as how to order nouns, verbs and adjectives in sentences.
Dysgraphia is an umbrella term that describes all types of difficulties with writing. That might include the physical formulation of letters and words, coherence of thought, or organization of ideas. Motor issues may include difficulty writing coherent, similarly sized and evenly spaced letters; or holding a pen or pencil for an extended time, if at all. Cognitive issues may include difficulty with sentence structure, syntax, spelling, grammar and punctuation. Typically, they include challenges organizing thoughts and transcribing them to the page in a coherent, structured way.

What is the Test for Dysgraphia?

There is no medical test for dysgraphia but healthcare and educational specialists can
assess your child’s writing with a standard diagnostic process. Clinicians will often
diagnose the two sides of dysgraphia – motor and cognitive – separately, to more
accurately assess the child’s needs and direct treatment. This may start in school, but most schools are not equipped to address specific educational challenges like
dysgraphia. It is important for parents to discuss their child’s needs with the school and remain vigilant about whether those needs are being met. It is often useful for parents to seek the input of an occupational therapist for motor issues and a neuropsychologist for the cognitive issues. Each can assess the child and recommend appropriate treatment.

Orton-Gillingham Teaching Approach for Students with Dysgraphia

The earlier a child’s dysgraphia is identified, the earlier it can be addressed with a
structured literacy approach like the Orton-Gillingham method. Structured literacy is the recommended way to teach reading and writing to students with learning disabilities like dyslexia and dysgraphia. Orton-Gillingham is an empirically proven approach, customized to the needs of each child, that focuses on phonics, decoding and meaning rather than on learning whole words.

It moves children sequentially from the easiest writing to the most difficult, adds skills iteratively, delivers information in a multi-sensory way and employs best practices in multiple language principles. Core elements of language are broken down along phonology (the sound of language), morphology (form and structure), syntax (grammar and sentence structure), meaning and comprehension. If you suspect your child has dysgraphia, have them tested and become their advocate. Though a lifelong condition, it can be managed and overcome with expert intervention applied over time.

Trident Academy in Mt. Pleasant, SC serves children with learning disabilities, employing teachers certified in Orton-Gillingham. Most of their students learn to read and write at grade level or beyond and “graduate” back into their school districts, earning their high school diplomas from ordinary high schools alongside their friends and neighbors.

Summary: Dysgraphia is a manageable lifelong condition affecting written
communication.