Research abstract

Dysgraphia – Types, Symptoms and How to Help

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects writing abilities. It can manifest itself as difficulties with spelling, poor handwriting and trouble putting thoughts on paper. Because writing requires a complex set of motor and information processing skills.

Laura Lurns Last updated March 12, 2019 · 1 min read

Did you know that when a child has trouble with the ability to write in spite of having the ability to read, the child could be suffering from a learning disability called dysgraphia. Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects one’s writing abilities. Usually, the disorder appears when the child is introduced to writing. According to Sue Ramin-Hutchison (Certified Teacher Consultant for Physically & Otherwise Health Impaired Students, Assistive Technology Support Specialist, and Special Education/Section 504 Advocate) and Merri Domer (Special Needs Technology Consultant), there are different types of Dysgraphia. These types are Dyslexic Dysgraphia, Motor Dysgraphia, Spatial Dysgraphia, Phonological Dysgraphia and Lexical Dysgraphia.

Dysgraphia can be identified by professionals such as Occupational Therapists and School Psychologists, it is still best that the child be diagnosed by a Neuropsychologist to make it official and be able to have the right method on how to help the child who suffers from it.

Key takeaways

Dysgraphia means having difficulties with writing.
There are five different types of dysgraphia.
It is rarely the case that continued handwriting practice will improve the use of pencil and paper.

Is your child struggling in school?

Get your free personalized learning roadmap

You describe what you see at home. We turn it into a plan you start this week.

Answer 5 short questionnaires about what you already notice, 30–45 minutes at your own kitchen table
Your child sits no test and gets no score: nothing to schedule, nothing for them to dread
You do the answering, the AI does the writing, and a person reviews it before it reaches you
Access all 40+ courses instantly: reading, math, focus, processing and more, with new ones added regularly

Why we use AI, plainly: it writes from a knowledge base our team maintains and audits. We work through it line by line and pull anything the evidence stops supporting. The roadmap you get on Tuesday reflects what we corrected on Monday, and a human still reads it before you do.

Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.

Get my free assessment & 7-day trial Cancel anytime during your trial.

Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.

A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.

Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.

Key takeaways

Is your child struggling in school?

Keep reading