Could Your Child Have Dysgraphia?
Have you noticed your child struggling to write clearly? Does it seem like your school-aged child has messy penmanship? Your child may have dysgraphia and need help from our Washington, DC or Arlington, VA pediatric therapists. Our pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapists work together to provide comprehensive care for your child to ensure they function at their highest potential!
Dysgraphia is a neurological condition that typically occurs when children first learn to write. It is thought that this condition manifests when someone has difficulty turning their thoughts into written language and the ability to think regardless of instructions and/or education.
Our Washington, DC and Arlington, VA pediatric specialists are here to help parents and caregivers identify your child’s difficulties and a comprehensive program to help children with delays develop, restore, and improve their overall function.
Request an appointment at Skills on the Hill today to learn more about how we can help your child reach their highest potential!
What is dysgraphia?
When dysgraphia appears in childhood, it’s usually a neurological condition that affects orthographic coding. This aspect of your child’s working memory allows your child to retain written words and how to move their hands and fingers to write these words.
Kids with dysgraphia have difficulty planning and executing writing letters, words and sentences. The main issue is not their ability to spell or read words but in processing words and then writing words.
Dysgraphia impairs the ability to produce written text and may be due to a lack of muscle coordination. Specific testing can reveal minor differences in fine motor tasks and abnormal hand strength/endurance.
In addition, in the second subtype of dysgraphia, called “spatial dysgraphia,” the impairments are thought to be related to spatial perception problems, leading to difficulty with the spacing and sizing of the letters and significantly impacting the ability to draw.
What are the most common symptoms of dysgraphia?
Illegible handwriting is a common sign of dysgraphia. It’s also possible to have neat handwriting if you have dysgraphia, but it typically takes the child more time and effort to write neatly.
The most common characteristics of dysgraphia include the following:
- Incorrect spelling
- Forgetting or omitting letters and words from sentences
- Difficulty with the sizing and spacing of letters
- Difficulty copying words and/or slow writing
- Unusual body or hand position when writing
- Holding the pen or pencil tightly
- Watching your hand or saying words aloud while writing
Kids with dysgraphia may have trouble concentrating on other things while writing. This difficulty often makes taking notes during class challenging because their attention is on trying to get each word down on paper.
Unfortunately, these kids may also be accused of being sloppy or lazy because their handwriting isn’t neat. This can affect self-esteem and lead to anxiety, a lack of confidence, and negative attitudes toward school. The good news is our pediatric therapists can help!
What to expect at your pediatric therapy sessions
Our Washington, DC and Arlington, VA pediatric therapists work with children to help them reach their maximum potential to function independently and to promote active participation at home and school.
When your child starts at our Washington, DC or Arlington, VA pediatric session, they will have a comprehensive evaluation. At this appointment, you will likely be asked about your child’s developmental milestones, the age at which they were achieved, and any delays or difficulties you may have noticed.
After a thorough history, our pediatric therapists will conduct a physical assessment to observe any difficulties or delays firsthand. Your child’s therapist may also monitor them engaging in writing and thinking and transitioning between activities.
Our physical, occupational, and speech therapists routinely collaborate to maximize the therapeutic interventions and your child’s outcomes. This information will help to identify the areas where therapy will be most beneficial. Based on the results of this assessment, we will tailor your child’s therapy treatment plan to their unique needs.
At Skills on the Hill, our pediatric therapists are dedicated to helping your child receive the best possible care!
Request an appointment at Skills on the Hill today!
Our highly skilled pediatric physical, occupational, and speech therapists work with kids with developmental disabilities to help them develop, restore, and improve their function.
Call Skills on the Hill today to request an appointment with our team of specialists!
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