| Learning disabilities are separated into three groups, | | | | type of dysgraphia, dyslexic dysgraphia, does not |
| academic skills disorders, speech and language | | | | appear to have a simple cause and may not improve |
| disorders and miscellaneous disorders. This first group, | | | | with any kind of treatment. If a person's writing skills |
| academic skills disorders, are disabilities that delay a | | | | do not improve with treatment, some doctors |
| child's progress in school, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia | | | | suggest that person use a computer for any written |
| (or agraphia) and dyscalculia. The second group, | | | | communication. |
| speech and language disorders, are disorders in which | | | | Other ways to help a dysgraphic person are changing |
| a child's speech, hearing, or understanding of spoken | | | | the way you teach (not very reasonable for public |
| words are delayed. Miscellaneous learning disabilities, | | | | school teachers), modifying handwriting jobs, or |
| the third group, include fine motor skills problems | | | | providing extra handwriting practice. There are many |
| (dyspraxia) or nonverbal learning disability. | | | | different ways of helping dysgraphic people. For |
| Dysgraphia is a learning disability characterized by | | | | children just beginning to write, it may be helpful to |
| illegible handwriting. The letters may be the wrong | | | | use a special paper designed with raised lines to help |
| size or spaced incorrectly. A person suffering from | | | | them stay in the lines. Another good idea for |
| dysgraphia may frequently misspell written words, | | | | beginning writers is to use a multi-sensory approach |
| although they can read the same word just fine. | | | | to writing letters, specifically the letters that trouble |
| Another possible problem with dysgraphia is using the | | | | beginning writers the most (p, q, b, d), for example |
| wrong word in a sentence, for example using the | | | | saying how the letters look, "big stick down, circle |
| word 'man' in place of 'John'. Dysgraphia in children is | | | | toward me" for a 'd'. Young students (second or third |
| usually found when parents first start teaching their | | | | grade) may benefit from using graph paper for math |
| child to write their name. Sometimes children with | | | | work to keep the numbers properly lined up in |
| dysgraphia have another learning disability, but they | | | | problems. It may also be helpful for them if their |
| usually have no problems socializing with other | | | | teacher allows them extra time on handwriting |
| children. When dysgraphia develops in an adult, it is | | | | assignments or uses alternate ways to determine |
| usually caused by some type of trauma. | | | | comprehension of a subject, for example doing a |
| Dysgraphia treatments vary depending on the type | | | | presentation or science project can show how well a |
| of dysgraphia you have and if you have another | | | | student understands the material. Teenagers and |
| learning disability. One type of dysgraphia, motor | | | | adults with dysgraphia may receive the most benefit |
| dysgraphia, is caused by poor fine motor skills and | | | | from having a tape recorder. These can be used to |
| can be treated with occupational therapy to improve | | | | supplement their note taking skills or to record their |
| those skills. Spatial dysgraphia is caused by a person | | | | brainstorming sessions before starting a writing |
| not understanding space (items at different distances | | | | assignment. These suggestions can be used with any |
| appear the same distance away). This type of | | | | age group, but some are more appropriate for the |
| dysgraphia may benefit from a course of treatment | | | | stated ages. |
| designed to correct neurological problems. The final | | | | |