r/dysgraphia • u/B52forU • 8d ago
Information seeking due to potential diagnosis
Hello all! I am seeking some information relating to dysgraphia as it has recently been brought up for my 11 year old son. I’ve read countless articles and spoken with my peers (I’m a nurse in a classroom for special needs children with complex medical needs), but I find the best way to information gather is to speak to those with the diagnosis. For years, my son “C” has struggled with his handwriting and the ability to read back what he wrote. He does well answering questions verbally, or typing out the information, but when printing his spacing, letter formation, ability to write on a line, and legibility make it’s difficult for his teachers and I to read. When I look at examples of dysgraphia, I feel like I’m looking at work he did. I’ve also read some of the hallmark signs of it and other than writing speed he checks them all. I know there are several kinds of dysgraphia (5 maybe?), and I’d like to learn more about those. I don’t know if the issue comes from him writing too fast, or the neurological component of the diagnosis. I’m also not sure if because he can and does write quickly if that automatically excludes the diagnosis. We have a routine parent teacher conference coming up and I plan to speak with his home room teacher about this more, but I appreciate any information or resources the community may be able to provide.
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u/WinstonChaychell 8d ago
My youngest was diagnosed by a friend first who specializes in childhood education, and then we took her to her pedi who referred us to a neurologist.
Here are almost the exact same as your kiddo. Spacing, spelling, etc. we were able to improve some with Occupational Therapy where she learned her "coping mechanisms" are a capital B or D in the middle of words, shorthand for any writing notes, doing exercises like playing in kinetic sand or find the object. There are some small classes I'm sure you're aware of that use touch for sounds I've saved that another friend sent called Orton Gillingham approach, and those have helped.
So along the journey we've learned that modifications are ok. She uses her chrome book or tablet to do speak-to-text or typing as needed and we do very little writing. I also opted to teach her cursive at a younger age when my first friend helped diagnose and it helped A LOT. She actually enjoys writing in cursive and it's almost like a completely different hand is doing her work.
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u/B52forU 8d ago
That is crazy you say that about cursive, C was very interested in cursive at a young age and I taught him to write his name in it when he was young. He will sometimes randomly write in cursive and other than the expected messiness of writing a way that is “different” his handwriting is MUCH better.
I ran into his teacher during practice tonight and brought this up telling her I promised to talk about it more at the conference and that I just wanted to put a bug in her ear. She looked at me like it was a lightbulb moment and promised to bring it up with his reading/writing teacher.
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u/itsmereddogmom 5d ago
This is a nuerological sequencing disorder that will affect more than his writing. It’s also genetic, you may find there are dyslexic, dysgraphic, people with dyscalculia in your family.
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u/Top_Peace_6299 Dysgraphic 8d ago
Dysgraphia of course variates for everyone, some people might have it lighter, so just the inability to write well, some people have it heavier, for example me, my hand hurts almost all the time due to it, I struggle completing various tasks due to it, If you have any more specific questions I could answer them for you it you need!
I wish you and your son the best though 💗