Many parents struggle with this familiar pattern: your child is fully capable of explaining something in detail to you when having a conversation, but they may have a hard time putting those thoughts into the written word.
As a result, there may be tears at the kitchen table as your child sits for hours trying to get through a writing assignment for homework. Or, maybe they rush through their work just to get it done. This can be a frustrating situation for both parent and child. In fact, you as the parent may interpret this as lack of effort or carelessness.
However, it could go much deeper than that. Your child’s persistent writing difficulties could stem from something called dysgraphia — a learning disability affecting written language. Fortunately, there are ways to test for this.
Dysgraphia: Defined
In a nutshell, dysgraphia refers to a difficulty with writing, affecting spelling, writing fluency and written expression. It’s important to note that this condition doesn’t indicate low intelligence or lack of motivation, but rather involves an underlying neurological issue.
Researchers have linked dysgraphia to challenges with recalling written letter and word patterns and coordinating the fine motor movements involved in handwriting.
Dysgraphia doesn’t always manifest in the same way with each child. Some have a difficult time with the physical act of writing, while others struggle with organizing and expressing their ideas clearly in writing.
7 Signs to Look Out For at Home or at School
From slow handwriting to difficulty organizing words on paper, there are a few signs of possible dysgraphia that parents and teachers should be on the lookout for:
- Slow or laborious handwriting
- Ongoing difficulty with spelling
- Written responses that are much less detailed than verbal responses
- Trouble starting or completing writing assignments
- Difficulty organizing thoughts on paper
- Frustration or avoidance of assignments involving substantial writing
- More noticeable difficulties as the years progress
This doesn’t mean the occasional messy handwriting in a notebook or your child’s dislike of writing translates to dysgraphia. It’s more important to notice patterns over time that may interfere with schoolwork or affect their enjoyment of a particular subject.
Is It Dysgraphia or Something Else?
While the above checklist is helpful, it shouldn’t be used to try and diagnose dysgraphia in your child. Because writing involves a variety of skillsets, from fine motor skills and attention span to reading ability and cognitive factors, dysgraphia testing can determine exactly where in the process your child is having the most problems.
On top of that, children can develop anxiety when they fall behind with writing assignments repeatedly.
What Does Dysgraphia Testing Consider?
Dysgraphia testing is customized to each child’s unique needs. It is conducted by a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist who will assess your child’s performance in a variety of areas:
- Writing and written-expression skills
- Fine motor skills
- Spelling, academic, and cognitive abilities
Dysgraphia testing will also be able to determine if there are broader concerns at play that affect attention span, memory, executive functioning, language, or emotional health. In those cases, a more comprehensive evaluation can be conducted to explore those issues further.
The purpose of dysgraphia testing is to identify your child’s individual pattern of strengths and difficulties – not to attach a label.
Understanding the reason behind the struggle can help parents and teachers identify and apply the best interventions and accommodations for the individual child.
Learn More About Dysgraphia Testing With CNLD
If you have noticed your child having persistent difficulties with handwriting, spelling or written expression, an evaluation may be the next step. Schedule a consultation for dysgraphia testing in Michigan today at (734) 724-5548.
