what is disgraphia

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder and learning disability that affects written expression, primarily handwriting, but also coherence. It is a specific learning disability (SLD) as well as a transcription disability, meaning that it is a writing disorder associated with impaired handwriting, orthographic coding, and finger sequencing. Dysgraphia is when ones writing skills are below those expected given a persons age measured through intelligence and age-appropriate education. The disorder causes a persons writing to be distorted or incorrect, and it can range from issues with the physical act of writing to issues with translating thoughts into written words. Dysgraphia generally appears when children are first learning to write, but people can also develop dysgraphia suddenly after some type of head or brain trauma. The underlying causes of the disorder are not fully understood, but dysgraphia is known to be a biologically-based disorder. Dysgraphia should be distinguished from agraphia, which is an acquired loss of the ability to write resulting from brain injury, progressive illness, or a stroke. The disorder is diagnosed by a licensed psychologist who specializes in learning disorders, though it may involve a team of specialists, including occupational therapists, special education teachers, and educational psychologists. Treatment varies and may focus on controlling writing movements and addressing impaired memory or other neurological problems. Some physicians recommend that individuals with dysgraphia use computers to avoid the problems of handwriting. Some individuals with the disorder improve their writing ability, but for others, the disorder persists.