Post by Charlie Girl on Oct 23, 2005 1:56:23 GMT -5
www.dyslexia-ca.org/dysgraphia.htm
©Regina G. Richards . Excerpts from When Writing's A Problem: Understanding Dysgraphia .
This is a small portion of the entire article. If you suspect dysgraphia, it would be wise to read the entire article.
Dysgraphia is defined as a difficulty in automatically remembering and mastering the sequence of muscle motor movements needed in writing letters or numbers. This difficulty is out of harmony with the person's intelligence, regular teaching instruction, and (in most cases) the use of the pencil in non-learning tasks. It is neurologically based and exists in varying degrees, ranging from mild to moderate. It can be diagnosed, and it can be overcome if appropriate remedial strategies are taught well and conscientiously carried out. ----------
An astute teacher or parent may suspect dysgraphia in a student by observing writing performances. All too often, however, the student's performance is interpreted as poor motivation, carelessness, laziness, or excessive speed. While these observations may be very real, they are on the surface, and the underlying cause may be a dysgraphic pattern which is not within the student's control. Specific symptoms which may be noted include:
Cramped fingers on writing tool
Odd wrist, body and paper positions
Excessive erasures
Mixture of upper and lower case letters
Mixture of printed and cursive letters
Inconsistent letter formations and slant
Irregular letter sizes and shapes
Unfinished cursive letters
Misuse of line and margin
Poor organization on the page
Inefficient speed in copying
General illegibility
Decreased speed of writing
Decreased speed of copying
Inattentiveness about details when writing
Frequently needs verbal cues and sub-vocalizing
Relies heavily on vision to monitor what the hand is doing during writing
Slowly implements verbal directions that involve sequencing and planning
©Regina G. Richards . Excerpts from When Writing's A Problem: Understanding Dysgraphia .
This is a small portion of the entire article. If you suspect dysgraphia, it would be wise to read the entire article.
Dysgraphia is defined as a difficulty in automatically remembering and mastering the sequence of muscle motor movements needed in writing letters or numbers. This difficulty is out of harmony with the person's intelligence, regular teaching instruction, and (in most cases) the use of the pencil in non-learning tasks. It is neurologically based and exists in varying degrees, ranging from mild to moderate. It can be diagnosed, and it can be overcome if appropriate remedial strategies are taught well and conscientiously carried out. ----------
An astute teacher or parent may suspect dysgraphia in a student by observing writing performances. All too often, however, the student's performance is interpreted as poor motivation, carelessness, laziness, or excessive speed. While these observations may be very real, they are on the surface, and the underlying cause may be a dysgraphic pattern which is not within the student's control. Specific symptoms which may be noted include:
Cramped fingers on writing tool
Odd wrist, body and paper positions
Excessive erasures
Mixture of upper and lower case letters
Mixture of printed and cursive letters
Inconsistent letter formations and slant
Irregular letter sizes and shapes
Unfinished cursive letters
Misuse of line and margin
Poor organization on the page
Inefficient speed in copying
General illegibility
Decreased speed of writing
Decreased speed of copying
Inattentiveness about details when writing
Frequently needs verbal cues and sub-vocalizing
Relies heavily on vision to monitor what the hand is doing during writing
Slowly implements verbal directions that involve sequencing and planning
