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