Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Videos you might be interested in
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
Dysgraphia in Children - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
While there are some children more gifted at writing, most are average and able to write their thoughts in a coherent manner. But then there are those who seem to have a lot of difficulty in doing even that. These children may be suffering from something known as Dysgraphia.
What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia can be described as a learning disability in which children have difficulty in writing and sometimes with other fine motor skills. Dysgraphia and ADHD often go together, but it can also be a standalone disability. Dysgraphia is also called “Specific Learning Disorder with Impairment in Writing.”
Types of Dysgraphia in Children
There are different types of dysgraphia, and most children have more than one type of it. Here are five types of dysgraphia:
1. Motor Dysgraphia
In this type of dysgraphia, handwriting is often illegible as the child is unable to hold a pencil correctly.
2. Dyslexic Dysgraphia
Children with dysgraphia dyslexia are often able to copy decently, but their spontaneous writing is quite illegible, and their spellings are not good.
3. Lexical Dysgraphia
This type is quite rare in children and is seen when the child can spell, but they are more reliant on the standard sound-to-letter patterns.
4. Spatial Dysgraphia
If a child does not understand the concept of space and has trouble writing on lines and spacing between words, then he or she is said to have spatial dysgraphia. Their spontaneous written work and copied work is illegible, but their spelling is usually normal.
5. Phonological Dyslexia
Phonological Dysgraphia is said to be the inability to spell unfamiliar words and phonetically irregular words. Children with this type of dysgraphia are unable to remember phonemes and use them correctly in writing.
Causes of Childhood Dysgraphia
It is important to understand what causes dysgraphia in children so that it is possible to work with them and help them. Here are some causes for childhood dysgraphia:
Underdeveloped fine motor skills
Inability to properly visually process letters and words
Brain damage
Multiple mental images
Inadequate instruction
Signs of Dysgraphia in Children
Look out for these signs if you suspect your child may have dysgraphia. Here are the most important dysgraphia symptoms:
Inability to get their thoughts down on paper
Messy or illegible handwriting
An awkward and tight grip on the pencil and awkward body position
Has trouble spacing between words and forming the shapes of the letters
Unable to pay proper attention
Has some trouble when trying to organize the words from left to right
Has difficulty staying within the margins
Has trouble with other fine motor skills such as holding a fork, tying shoelaces or fastening buttons
Inability to spell correctly and sometimes mixes upper case and lower case letters
Unable to hold the pencil properly or use scissors the correct way
Avoids writing
Writes incomplete sentences
When Does Dysgraphia Start Showing Its Symptoms?
As dysgraphia is related to the inability to write properly, most parents and teachers may notice the signs first beginning to appear when the child in question has to start writing assignments in school. While all children begin with inconsistency in their writing skills, they soon get the hang of it. If your child remains unable to get used to writing and shows the above symptoms for longer than the normal learning curve most children require, your child may be showing signs of dysgraphia.
How is Dysgraphia Diagnosed?
If you believe that your child is displaying symptoms of dysgraphia, consider seeking the advice of a psychologist or a neurologist as they are qualified to diagnose dysgraphia. The doctor will require some background information on the child's family history, developmental milestones, and some academic history that involves writing samples of your child. Your child will also have to go through a dysgraphia test which will include some activities in which the evaluator can assess his fine motor skills, intelligence and academic achievement. Letter formation and other types of motor-related dysgraphia can be diagnosed at the age of six, but most wait until the child has reached about nine years of age before giving a proper diagnosis, as the 'Test of Written Language' can only be done by children who are more used to complex forms of writing.
Treatment of Dysgraphia In Kids
Dysgraphia has no cure, and so, the treatment will vary from child to child. It will also vary if the child has any other type of learning disability or any kind of health problems. Here are some ways in which dysgraphia in kids can be treated:
There are no specific dysgraphia writing exercises, but there are certain teaching techniques that can help. Since many children with dysgraphia also have dyslexia, they may need to work on basic reading skills, like decoding, to be able to write better. It is especially important in helping children with their spelling. For this, syllable patterns, letter-sound relationships, and relations between meanings and letter groupings will need to be explained to them well.
Those who struggle with their motor skills required to write can undergo occupational therapy. Here, therapists work on the strength of the hand and the fine motor coordination a child will need to be able to write. They also help children learn how to position their arm correctly and how to hold their bodies.
In order to help kids with other problems related to writing, educational therapy will work wonders. Here, they will learn how to work around their weaknesses with writing and be able to help children with setting reasonable and achievable goals for writing, and will also be able to teach them how to track their progress with visual tools. This helps children tackle writing assignments with as little frustration as possible.
What Can Parents Do to Improve Their Child’s Writing and Alleviate Their Pain?
Writing can be so emotionally stressful for children with dysgraphia, which is why they try to avoid it as much as they can. If you make the time to practice a few things with your child though, you can help him remove a lot of unnecessary pain from his attempts at writing. Here we have a few tips that will help:
1. Change the Paper
Try replacing the lined paper with graph paper so that each letter gets its own block or space and teach him to leave one empty block between the words.
2. Change the Tool
Children with dysgraphia are not naturally able to hold a pen or pencil lightly so if you give them something delicate to work with, it will encourage them to use a light grip. You can get your child a feathered quill and ink to make things more fun, or if that is not available, you can always encourage him to write with chalk on a chalkboard or slate. There are even some dysgraphia pencil grips that are made to help your child get a better grip on his pencil.
3. Teach Typing
Typing is so much easier for children with dysgraphia than writing is, so teaching him to type will remove a lot of stress and allow him to express his thoughts in written form much better.
4. Build Muscle Memory
For children with dysgraphia, fine motor skills can be a problem, so have your child use the three fingers used for writing to walk a chopstick up and down. Make it fun for him by turning this into a game and rewarding him for a job well done.
5. Multisensory Exercises
Have your child play around in either sand or paint and ask him to form words using his fingers. Tactile learners will be able to form memories of the letters by feeling them.
6. Speak and Write
Encourage your child to say the word out loud first and then write it down. This will help him focus and keep track of his efforts as it engages different parts of the brain.
7. Dictation
Children with good oral skills can be given a voice recorder and encouraged to record their thoughts first and then write it down while listening to it. This will make things easier for them as they will not need to focus on forming sentences or their grammar, and will be able to focus solely on their word formation.
8. Letter Formation Drills
A common problem that children with dysgraphia have is starting words from bottom up. Teach them to form letters from the top rather than the bottom consistently. The letters do not need to be perfect, but they should be consistent.
When to Worry
If your little one tries his best but still does not seem able to get the hang of writing and is becoming anxious at the thought of any kind of writing activity, you may want to look into asking for an assessment and see if your child has dysgraphia. Some children may need a bit more help than what you can give them at home. A professional will be able to take therapy further than you can and will be able to identify the exact underlying cause of the problem.
Though it can be frustrating for both child and parent, it is important not to allow your child to lose confidence in himself. Do not be afraid to ask for help if your attempts to help your child improve at home do not work, because your child’s future depends on him being able to have enough confidence in his abilities. Together, you can overcome this issue.
Also Read: Developmental Delay in Kids Read more
Suggested for you
Baked Mac Cheese
This classic American dish made with pasta is also known as Macaroni Cheese or Macaroni pie. Here the macaroni pasta is baked with cheddar cheese. It is a hit among kids and the adults love it too!
To this basic recipe you can add flavourings of your choice while making the sauce like ground beef, bacon, garlic etc.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
10 minutes
45 minutes
Ingredients
2 cups (app. ½ lb) Colavita Gomti (Macaroni Pasta)
3-4 tbsps (tablespoons) breadcrumbs
2 tbsps Parmesan cheese
For The Sauce
3 tbsps butter
3 tbsps all purpose flour
2 cups milk
½ tsp (teaspoon) salt
1/4 tsp black pepper powder
3/4 cup Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup Mozzarella cheese
2 tbsps Parmesan cheese
Method
Step 1
Heat a pan over medium low heat and add the butter. Once it melts, add the flour. Mix it and cook it for about a minute.
Step 2
Add the milk little by little while constantly stirring till you get a nice sauce. Add salt and pepper and switch off.
Step 3
Add the grated cheese and cover the pan. The heat of the sauce will melt the cheese.
Step 4
In the meantime, cook the pasta as per the instructions on the pack.
Step 5
In a deep big pot bring plenty of water to a boil. Add salt and the pasta.
Step 6
Cook till the pasta turns soft but not mushy. Drain the water and add it to the sauce.
Step 7
Mix the pasta with the sauce till the sauce coats it nicely.
Step 8
You can serve the mac and cheese as such or go ahead and bake it. Baking takes it to a whole new level.
Step 9
Put the macaroni cheese in a baking dish or a casserole.
Step 10
Spread the bread crumbs and parmesan cheese on top.
Step 11
Drizzle few drops of olive oil on top of the bread crumbs.
Step 12
Bake in the over preheated at 400 degree F (200 degree C) for 20 minutes or till the sauce bubbles up and the top is browned.
Step 13
Baked macaroni and cheese is ready to be served with a fresh side salad.
Step 14
Enjoy your delicious Colavita baked mac and cheese cuisine with your family or friends.
Nutritional Information
Serving Size 1/2 cup
Calories
347
Calories from Fat
140
Total Fat
15.5 g 24%
Saturated Fat
8.9 g 45%
Trans Fat
0.0 g
Cholesterol
76 mg 25%
Sodium
1 mg 0%
Potassium
181 mg 5%
Total Carbohydrates
36.6 g 12%
Dietary Fiber
1.1 g 4%
Sugars
2.3 g
Protein
14.6 g
Vitamin A
9%
Vitamin C
1%
Calcium
25%
Iron
12%
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet
Nutritional details are an estimate and should only be used as a guide for approximation..
Tips:
The left over mac and cheese can be used to spread on a toast and make a quick macaroni sandwich.
Mac and cheese can also be used as a filling to make samosas or rolls.
If you want a healthier option, cook some vegetables like broccoli or celery and puree it. Add the mac and cheese, the vegetable puree and some stock and boil it. You will get a cheesy soup in no time.
Read more
Suggested for you
Dream Comes True!
To have a Baby Girl was my Dream
Yes! Becoming mother of a daughter is perfectly a PERFECT gift for me. I am glad to have a daughter as since the very first day when I knew about my pregnancy, I was dreaming and praying to have a daughter. It is like to see my own reflection as if playing with "little Me". It is a Journey which I never want to end but I know one day these tiny fingers will definitely fly in her own tune. I will keep praying to GOD that let her fly with grace and power. As a mother I will let her fly and fullfill her dreams. I will make her fearless and independent so that she must feel that she is enough.
My days, weeks, months just vanishes and time runs as if somebody has tigger the clock. I seriously don't understand why children grow so fast? Is there any wheel attached to their body. No, seriously I never get enough of her and time runs. I always keep looking my phone memory pics and keep capturing it. I think it will never ever going to satisfies me enough to love her and care for her. Now, she is two years ten months old and she talks so much but I love to listen her all half spoken words, sentences. I make sure that she also feels happy to share everything as I feel when she speaks. She started helping me also in her own way which makes me super happy that she also cares for me. She is so small but still she wants her mommy to help. I keep pulling, squeezing her cheeks for that and she keeps making faces. It is a incredible feeling.
For me, it is truly
A Dream Comes True to have her in my life.
Thankyou so much...
My little angel for chossing us as your parents. Read more
Suggested for you
Suggested for you
It’s the father’s name that matters: Know your rights when naming your child!
"Vansh"a very common term that is used in indian households. A mighty "XY" chromosome when born in indian households carry forwards the name of the family that had no hand "literally" in giving birth to him.
When two people get married the woman is expected to leave behind everything including her surname. The woman is now not supposed to keep the people who gave birth to her, raised her, cared for her, loved her these last 20-30 years as her priority;
now all she got to worry about is her husband and his family. The festivals now belong to her husband and his family and this is termed as ideal by not only men but also women of our country. This is glorified in our country to such an extent that
it is even asked for in government offices.
Recently we went to get our daughter’s birth certificate made and we encountered something that I should have seen coming but well I had hoped better. When I got married I had made perfectly clear to not only my husband but also my new family that
I maybe adding them in my life but I wont be deprioritising the people whom i owe everything. And I wont be leaving my identity behind but won’t mind adding up a new identity along with it if need be. Even when we had a daughter I was pretty clear
that she will get both her parent’s surname and not just her father’s cause let’s be honest here apart from sperm, the contribution till the child is born is pretty negligible.
My husband was pretty onboard with the idea till things took a different turn in that government office. We went ahead and filled out the form as asked but that official went in some kind of shock seeing that my daughter didn’t have her father’s first
name and instead my surname. He went ahead and kept questioning and ordering us not to do this as "supposedly" it’s not how this works. The child is supposed to get her father’s name and surname. My husband took a different stance once things started
getting ugly with that official but I had made it perfectly clear to him and that official that this is what is going to happen .He started ignoring me and started just focusing his statements to my husband and after a lot of debate and back and forth
his last statement was "main kardeta hoon par baad mein aana mat change karane ke galti hogayi".
This whole incident left me a little broken not cause my husband gave in when I needed him to take a stand but the fact that this patriarchy is so deeply rooted in our culture that it troubles me how many more years will it take for us to come out
of it.
As of today our daughter has both of our surnames. Always remember to know your rights atleast when it comes to naming your child.Our society is changing one family at a time but only "WE" women can make this happen. We need to start questioning
the "aisa hi hota aya hai" and start saying "jo humare liye sahi hai hum woh karenge".
Let’s leave this world a place of equality and equal opportunities for all gender alike!
Read more
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
28 mins ago
Q. Hello Doctor,
can vaccination be delayed for 2 months old baby ? if yes, how long can we delay ? please advise
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
27 mins ago
A. yes further you can contact with your doctor and you can get the the solution for this by discussing with him he will guide you for more details ighf required .
Its always better to take the guidance by the concerned person with the geniune advice ...
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
27 mins ago
Q. 31 weeks pregnant doctor suggested gestakind two times, refka tablets 1 time at night, iron capsule 2 times, and calcium tablet 1 time after lunch
is this okay? and how to take all this medicine??
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
17 mins ago
A. okay follow as per the doctors advice. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
23 mins ago
Q. when can i start massage after c section delivery and which body part massage is not suggested
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
23 mins ago
A. Just on the tummy area where you have stitches rest you can start with it not a problem but just make sure tell your muscles to keep a very light hand and also keep it away from your stitch area rest you can go ahead with getting a massage done there is no problem
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
14 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert.
which formula milk is best for newly born baby if the mother is not able to feed?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
10 mins ago
A. no problem can use any brand as doctors advise. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
12 mins ago
Q. Hi doctor,
Please recommend me the feeding bottle & breast pump for post delivery.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
9 mins ago
A. many brands available but better to feed the baby directly. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
8 mins ago
Q. #asktheexpert
I lost my baby after delivery due to a weak heart and heart cells issue. Everything is good in the TIFFA scan but finally we lost our baby.
Will you please tell us the correct reason and after the TIFFA scan doctor knows this issue or not. Till the 5th month ending I consulted one doctor afterwards to the delivery time and consulted another doctor.
Read moreDr Ghouse
Paediatrician
8 mins ago
A. different reasons not possible to pin point. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Check out this new Memory
Kshama Jain
Guardian of a 8 m old girl
1 min ago
#babyphotochallenge
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Arjun
Father of a 1 yr 2 m old boy
1 min ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Tanushree
Guardian of a 3 m old girl
2 mins ago
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Charles
Guardian of a 1 yr 10 m old girl and 10 m old girl
4 mins ago
#stylishbaby
0 Likes
0 Comment
Check out this new Memory
Shashi Kala
Mom of a 2 yr 5 m old boy
4 mins ago
Avyansh singh
0 Likes
0 Comment
Tell us more about yourself get More Personalised
- Infant0 to 6 Months
- Baby6 Months to 2 Yrs
- Toddler2 to 4 yrs
- Kids4-6 yrs
- Big Kids6+ yrs
- Expecting
- Trying to Conceive