Do you find yourself staring at your child’s messy, illegible handwriting, wondering why something so simple seems so hard for them? Or maybe you’ve seen brilliant ideas in their head get lost somewhere between their brain and the paper. In this blog post, we’re unlocking the mystery behind dysgraphia vs dyslexia. They are actually separate issues.
What is Dysgraphia?
The word comes from the Greek “dys,” meaning difficulty, and “graphia,” meaning writing. It’s a specific learning disability that affects a person’s ability to write. Now, this isn’t the same as just having bad handwriting or being a sloppy writer. Dysgraphia is a neurological condition that impairs the motor skills and cognitive processes involved in writing. It’s a disconnect between the brain and the hand and is not preventable.
Writing seems easy but upon close examination, there is a lot that needs to occur. When writing a sentence, our brain has to retrieve the right words, remember how to spell them, and then, on a physical level, it has to tell your hand and fingers to move in a very specific, coordinated way to form letters and leave the appropriate spacing between letter and words. For a person with dysgraphia, one or more of these steps is incredibly difficult.
I’m hardly an expert on dysgraphia but since there is a high co-morbidity with dyslexia, I thought it worth discussing further. First of all, it’s not dysgraphia vs dyslexia. Co-morbidity simply means that two separate issues are frequently present in the same person. This frequency occurs more often than would be expected according to statistics. In other words, a dyslexic person (difficulty reading), frequently also has dysgraphia (difficulty writing). Similarly, someone with dysgraphia may also be dyslexic. Don’t think of it as dysgraphia vs dyslexia.
Often children with dyslexia will also show signs of dysgraphia but it isn’t a case of dysgraphia vs dyslexia. There are different types of dysgraphia:
- Motor Dysgraphia: This is the one most people think of. It’s the struggle with the physical act of writing. A child might have poor pencil grip, write letters of inconsistent size and shape, or have trouble staying on the line. Their hand might get tired or even hurt from the effort of writing.
- Spatial Dysgraphia: This involves difficulty with the spatial organization of writing. A child might have trouble with spacing between letters and words, or their sentences might drift up or down the page. They may also have trouble with things like drawing or following a complex maze.
- Dysgraphia with Impaired Written Expression: This is when the cognitive side of writing is the key issue. A child might have wonderful ideas in their head, but be unable to organize them on paper. Their writing might be very disjointed and hard to follow.
These forms of dysgraphia are not exclusive so a child may have one, two, or all three of these challenges. They might be labeled as lazy or defiant, when in reality, they’re working ten times harder than their peers just to get a single sentence on paper. This can lead to a lot of frustration.
Why Handwriting Still Matters
In a world of keyboards, tablets, and voice-to-text, it’s fair to ask: “Why do we still care about handwriting?” In fact, it’s a question that many schools started asking a decade or two ago. Unfortunately, the question led to a belief that teaching handwriting wasn’t needed since students would have access to word processing programs. As a result many schools moved away from extensive handwriting instruction at the lower elementary level. Sure, schools cover the basics like writing your name, but in general handwriting has been relegated to the back burner. In my opinion, this has turned into a huge mistake.
Handwriting is fundamental to early literacy. When a child learns to write a letter, they’re not just practicing a motor skill; they’re connecting the sound of that letter (the phoneme) with its visual representation (the grapheme). This process is critical for developing strong reading skills. It helps them build a deeper understanding of how words are constructed. Let’s use the analogy that when you want to build a house, a strong foundation is needed before you build the house.
And let’s not forget the practical side. Handwriting is still a part of life. We fill out forms, sign documents, and even scribble down quick notes. For a child with dysgraphia, the goal isn’t always to achieve perfect, elegant penmanship. The goal is to build a functional skill set that allows them to navigate these everyday tasks without feeling overwhelmed. It’s about empowering them with the tools they need, both digital and physical, to succeed. This kinesthetic feedback—the feeling of the pen on the paper, the movement of their hand—helps to reinforce learning. Studies have found that students who take notes by hand have a better conceptual understanding of the material and can recall it more easily than those who type.
Right now we have an entire generation that doesn’t know how to hold a pencil, and to write more than a few words by hand. Watch people write. It’s quite interesting to see the generational divide. This is not to imply that an entire generation has dysgraphia. Rather the lack of instruction may be contributing to what is seen as poor handwriting skills.
3 Ways to Help Your Child with Dysgraphia
For individuals who do have dysgraphia there are several things that you can do to minimize their frustration.
1. Be Patient and Focus on Strengths. The most important thing you can do is to have the right mindset with your approach. Acknowledge your child’s struggle. Instead of saying, “Why is your handwriting so messy?” try saying, “I know writing is really hard for you. Let’s find a way to make it easier.” Validate their frustration. Celebrate their successes, no matter how small. Did they write one neat sentence? That’s a huge win!
2. Use Multi-Sensory Strategies. Learning needs to engage more than just one sense. For a child with dysgraphia, incorporating touch, movement, and sound can make a huge difference in building additional neural pathways.
- Practice with different textures. Let your child write letters in a tray of sand, with finger paint, or with shaving cream on a tabletop. [Warning: it’s really messy!!] This engages the sense of touch and can make the process fun and less intimidating.
- Use body movements. Have them “sky write” letters in the air using their whole arm. This uses larger motor skills which are often less challenging to build muscle memory for letter formation.
- Make it auditory. Have your child say the letter name and sound as they write it. This connects the sound of the word to the physical act of writing it.
- Try different writing instruments. A crayon versus a pencil versus a pen. A thick pencil compared to a thinner one. Change the type of paper so there is more friction. Experiment and see what your child prefers.
3. Provide Accommodations and Modifications. This is about finding alternative ways for your child to demonstrate their knowledge. It’s not “giving up” on handwriting; it’s about leveling the playing field. I like to think of the following technology as the “audiobook” for dysgraphia.
- Technology as your friend. Encourage the use of a keyboard for longer assignments. Explore voice-to-text software, which can be a game-changer for a child who has great ideas but can’t get them on paper. Apps like Google Docs have this built-in, and there are other great programs available. If your child is using a tablet, consider adding a screen protector that adds friction when writing with a stylus.
- Modify assignments. Talk to your child’s teacher. Can they take a picture of the homework on the board instead of copying it? Can they give a verbal report instead of a written one? Can they be given a partial outline for notes instead of having to write everything from scratch? These small changes can reduce the writing load and let your child focus on the content.
Dysgraphia vs Dyslexia
Remember it isn’t dysgraphia vs dyslexia. You can’t prevent dysgraphia any more than you can prevent dyslexia! But you can help to lessen the impact. By understanding the challenges, valuing the importance of foundational skills, and providing an encouraging environment, you are reinforcing the knowledge that they can succeed.
