Dysgraphia in Adults
Dysgraphia is best defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder manifested by illegible and/or inefficient handwriting due to difficulty with letter formation. This difficulty is the result of deficits in the graphomotor function (hand movement used for writing) and/or storing and retrieving orthographic codes (letter forms). It also impacts the mental processes associated with writing, like picking a topic, organizing ideas, and making a coherent point. Many adults who have struggled with writing all of their life have devised strategies to compensate or to avoid writing altogether.
Symptoms of dysgraphia in adults might look like:
Highly illegible handwriting, often to the point that even the individual can not read what they wrote
Struggles with manipulating small objects by hand
Uses a pen grip that is “strange” or “awkward”
Trouble reading maps
Difficulty drawing, tracing, or painting
Avoids writing whenever possible; prefers a digital grocery list to a written one, for instance
Makes spelling errors in simple notes
May also dislike texting and have trouble with typing
When using spell-check on a computer, often has difficulty picking out the correct word from a list of similar word
Trouble filling in routine forms by hand, particularly if they require fitting words into set boxes
Mixes lowercase and uppercase letters, or print and cursive letters, seemingly randomly
Often leaves out individual letters or the ends of words, particularly when writing quickly
Experiences hand cramps or pain when writing
Often uses grammatically incorrect sentences in emails or reports
Able to explain self clearly when speaking, but not when writing
Dysgraphia is a brain-based disorder, and it can be improved with accommodations and, in some cases, occupational therapy. We will use the assessment information to make relevant recommendations for both work and home.
Diagnostic Learning Services has been assessing adults and children since 2004.