Dysgraphia: when writing is hard

Many experts describe dysgraphia as difficulty with transcription: the handwriting, typing and spelling skills that turn words into writing.

Some experts treat trouble organising and expressing ideas in writing as a separate difficulty. Others include it in dysgraphia. Either way, the support often overlaps.

Dysgraphia is no longer a stand-alone diagnosis in the main U.S. diagnostic manual. It falls under specific learning disorder in written expression. In U.S. schools, it falls under “specific learning disability” in IDEA, the special education law.

Developmental dysgraphia appears when children first learn to write. Acquired dysgraphia can come on suddenly after a head or brain injury.

Dyslexia mainly affects reading, while dysgraphia mainly affects writing. They share some signs and often happen together.

Dyspraxia (DCD) affects coordination more widely and can also affect handwriting. A person can have one, two or all three.

It can look like

• Letters that change shape or size
• Mixing capital and small letters
• Trouble remembering how to form letters
• Writing that is hard to read
• Writing some letters backward

It can look like

• Poor spacing between letters and words
• Trouble writing in a straight line
• Trouble fitting writing into a set space

It can look like

• Trouble holding and controlling a pencil
• Slow or uneven writing speed
• Falling behind when copying from the board

Writing slowly can make it hard to show what you know, especially on timed tests.

It can look like

• Leaving out letters or words
• Putting words in the wrong order
• Problems with grammar and putting sentences together
• Spelling mistakes, because forming letters takes so much effort

Dysgraphia is rooted in difficulty storing and automatically remembering letters and numbers. It can affect how readable and fast writing is, and planning and organising too.

Many writing struggles are linked to motor skills: fine motor skills to hold a pencil, gross motor skills to position the arm, and motor planning to form and space letters. These can be part of dyspraxia (DCD).

The exact cause isn’t known, but dysgraphia often runs in families, which points to a genetic link. It is more common in boys, and in people who are autistic or have ADHD.

Dysgraphia often comes with

• ADHD
• Autism
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia (DCD)
• Other language and writing differences

When writing is slow and hard, a child may start avoiding it and believe they aren’t clever. Finding writing methods that work is important for both learning and self-esteem.

Ideas that help

• Let them tell you their ideas out loud first, and praise the ideas
• Name what they’re good at, inside and outside school
• Remind them their brain works differently with writing, not worse

Dysgraphia is often missed, and some people aren’t identified until young adulthood. It’s never too late to get a diagnosis and find tools that help.

One helpful classroom change is grading what a student knows, not their handwriting or spelling.

The team may include

• A healthcare provider
• A neuropsychologist
• An occupational therapist
• A physical therapist
• A speech therapist

Occupational and physical therapists usually look at the movement skills involved in writing.

In U.S. public schools, evaluations are free for children. Schools use their own rules to decide who qualifies for special education. A child who qualifies may get an IEP.

Adults usually need to find a private therapist or specialist for an evaluation or occupational therapy.

• Accommodation: the same lessons, with tools or support, like typing instead of handwriting
• Modification: changed goals or tasks, like giving test answers out loud
• Remediation: teaching that works directly on writing skills

Occupational therapy builds fine motor skills and motor planning. Physical therapy works on larger movements, like arm and body position.

Examples

• A laptop or audio recorder in class
• Extra time for notes and copying
• Handouts instead of copying from the board
• Paper with raised or colored lines
• Typed notes or lesson outlines

Examples

• A rubric explaining how each part is graded
• Examples of finished work
• Help breaking writing tasks into smaller steps
• Name, date and title already filled in
• Starting long assignments early

Examples

• A choice of printing or cursive
• A scribe, or speech-to-text for answers
• Circle-the-answer or fill-in-the-blank formats
• Extra time and a quiet room if needed
• Oral reports instead of written ones

Ideas to try

• Different pens and pencils, to find the most comfortable
• Graph paper, or lined paper turned sideways, to line up math
• Line guides
• Paper with raised or colored lines
• Pencil grips

Speech recognition (speech-to-text) software lets you dictate writing instead of handwriting or typing it. It’s a common support at school and at work.

Ideas to try

• Electronic dictionaries
• Handwriting apps or software
• Proofreading help
• Word prediction or completion software
• Word processors instead of handwriting

Graphic organisers, like idea maps and outline templates, help plan writing before starting. Note-taking and writing software can help with organising too.

Ideas to try

• Drawing letters in sand, shaving foam or salt
• Making letters from play dough
• Puzzles, beads and building toys for hand strength
• Writing big letters on a whiteboard or outside with chalk

Ideas that help

• Let them say answers out loud while you or a device write them
• Plan with a quick drawing or idea map before writing
• Short breaks to rest the hand
• Typing for longer pieces, if the school agrees

Try saying

• “Tell me your idea first. I love how you think.”
• “Want to type it or say it instead?”
• “Writing is hard work for your brain. Let’s take a break.”
• “Your ideas are what matter most.”

Try not to say

• “If you slowed down, it would be neat.”
• “Just try harder.”
• “Rewrite it until it’s tidy.”
• “Your writing is so sloppy.”

Being called sloppy or lazy can lead to low self-esteem and a belief that they aren’t smart.

Ideas from the Job Accommodation Network

• Extra time for written tasks
• Form-filling software
• Proofreading help
• Speech recognition and word prediction software
• Spoken answers instead of written ones
• Written forms and prompts

JAN gives free, confidential advice about job accommodations and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Visit askjan.org or call (800) 526-7234.

Many of the supports that help at school, like extra time, typing, speech-to-text and a quiet room, can also help at college.

Ideas people use

• Dictating texts and emails
• Filling in forms online instead of on paper
• Keeping a typed template for common messages
• Taking a photo of a whiteboard instead of copying

• Center for Parent Information and Resources: parentcenterhub.org (find your free state Parent Center)
• Learning Disabilities Association of America: ldaamerica.org
• Understood (from the National Center for Learning Disabilities): understood.org

In many countries, the school and your family doctor can point you to an occupational therapist or learning specialist. Local learning-difference charities often have advice for families and adults.