FAQ

What is dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a neurobiological disorder that can influence quality and/or speed of writing. The graphic-motor level of students with dysgraphia has not a correspondence to the age and the grade.

Writing skills are significantly below normal for an individual’s age, intellect and education.

 

What causes dysgraphia?

Most specialists consider dysgraphia to be a hereditary, genetic condition. Dysgraphia often runs in families. Recent researches show that child development is influenced by both innate and acquired aspects. Individual features are always combined with environmental ones (social and educational).

 

What are the main risk indicators of dysgraphia?

Some of the main risk indicators are: delay in motor development; family history of learning disabilities; presence of difficulties after a positive teaching training or treatment.

 

Does dysgraphia affect men and women equally?

Dysgraphia is diagnosed more often in males, but some researches show that it affects males and females equally.

 

How many people have dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia affects approximately 10% of the population

 

Is it possible to re-educate dysgraphia?

Yes, it is possible to re-educate writing through specific activities only after a thorough neuropsychological assessment indicating areas of intervention. They have to consider some variables: child age, reason, severity, family support. There is no medication for treating dysgraphia.

 

Are people with dysgraphia of average intelligence?

Dysgraphics are often of average intelligence, in fact the criteria to have a diagnosis of dysgraphia include a normal level of intelligence.

 

How do I know if my child is dysgraphic?

The diagnosis of dysgraphia is difficult to make: many people have handwriting difficulties.  The list of difficulties signs can be used as a general description but it is necessary a diagnosis done by professionals. Signs of dysgraphia often appear in early primary school.

 

Which are the differences between dysgraphia and difficulties in writing?

Dysgraphia is a specific neurobiological disorder; writing difficulties are mainly caused by lack of stimulus and no correct teaching process. Both require specific intervention before introducing compensatory instruments.

Dysgraphia exists independently of good and poor teaching.

 

The Difference between Dysgraphia and Dyslexia?

Dyslexia and dysgraphia are both learning difficulties. Dyslexia primarily affects reading, dysgraphia mainly affects writing. (For more details, see https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dysgraphia/the-difference-between-dysgraphia-and-dyslexia ).

 

Is Dysgraphia the Same Thing as Disorder of Written Expression?

Writing Disorders can be language based (Dysortographia), and/or non-language based (Dysgraphia). Dysgraphia is a specific learning disability that affects written expression.

 

What are the consequences of dysgraphia?

The consequences of dysgraphia is mainly psychological.

Many people with dysgraphia are assumed to be slow learners and teachers and parents put them through intensive handwriting training, which if not handled correctly, can create a feeling of failure.

Children with dysgraphia often experience frustration, anger, de-motivation, anxiety and low self-esteem or poor self-image.

The motivation for school activities decrease, especially in written activities.

 

Should I Be Worried About My Child Reversing Letters?

Most pupils reverse some letters (b-d; e-a; p-q; m-w; u-n)) . It is a common error, so don’t worry and don’t conclude that your child is dysgraphic. But If your child is 8 years old or more, start to investigate, asking his teacher or guidance counselor.

 

How can people with dysgraphia can solve their situation in adult age?

The main question is finding “how to write” in a quickly and readable way. It is not important if a person writes in cursive or script; or with a pen or a computer.

In some situation, it is enough to change cursive or script, selecting the favorite; sometime it is useful to have a treatment; sometime it is necessary to introduce compensatory tools (computer) at school or/and home.