Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a deficiency in the ability to write primarily in terms of handwriting, but also in terms of coherence. Agraphia is a complete loss of ability to write and spell when writing. Persons with agraphia can not transform graphemes in written language. Both occur regardless of the ability to read and is not due to intellectual impairment. Dysgraphia is a transcription disability, meaning that it is a writing disorder associated with impaired handwriting, orthographic coding (orthography, the storing process of written words and processing the letters in those words), and finger sequencing (the movement of muscles required to write). It often overlaps with other learning disabilities such as speech impairment, attention deficit disorder, or developmental coordination disorder. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), dysgraphia is characterized as a learning disability in the category of written expression when one’s writing skills are below those expected given a person’s age measured through intelligence and age appropriate education. The DSM is not clear in whether or not writing refers only to the motor skills involved in writing, or if it also includes orthographic skills and spelling. The word dysgraphia comes from the Greek words dys meaning "impaired" and graphia meaning "making letter forms by hand".
There are two stages, at least, in the act of writing; a linguistic stage and a motor-expressive-praxic stage. The linguistic stage involves the encoding of auditory and visual information into symbols for letters and written words. This is mediated through the angular gyrus. The angular gyrus provides the linguistic rules which guide writing. The motor stage is where the expression of written words or graphemes is articulated. This stage is mediated by Exner’s writing area of the frontal lobe. Most patients with aphasia will suffer from some form of agraphia due to a disturbance in language processing which ultimately affects the ability to write.
People with dysgraphia can often write on some level and may lack other fine motor skills, for example they may find tasks such as tying shoes difficult, but it does not affect all fine motor skills. People with dysgraphia often have unusual difficulty with handwriting and spelling which in turn can cause writing fatigue. They may lack basic grammar and spelling skills (for example, having difficulties with the letters p, q, b, and d), and often will write the wrong word when trying to formulate their thoughts on paper. The disorder generally emerges when the child is first introduced to writing. Adults, teenagers, and children alike are all subject to dysgraphia.

8 Signs of Dysgraphia

Inability to user silverware properly. Children typically begin to use silverware somewhere between six months of age to a year but they don't begin to use it properly until somewhere around the age of 3 ½ or 4. Dysgraphic children struggle with this for much longer. If your child is 5 or 6 and still grasps his spoon like a samurai warrior, often missing their mouth and dropping food all over the floor then you should talk to your pediatrician about the motor skill development of your child. This is one of the earliest signs of dysgraphia.
Has trouble with buttons and zippers. Because dysgraphia affects the small motor skills in the hand dysgraphic kids often have a hard time manipulating small buttons and zippers. Under normal conditions toddlers who can't button their own shirts isn't much to be concerned with but if your 10 year old still can't wear button-fly jeans you should be concerned.
Doesn't learn to tie his or hear shoes like other kids. There are gazillions of children and adults both that hate to tie their shoes. Some people simply tie double knots and never untie them but dysgraphic kids have an affinity for Velcro. Your child should be able to tie their own shoes by the time they are in the second grade and if they can't a pediatrician should be consulted.
Has low level tolerance to high pressure towards writing. The more pressure there is on a dysgraphic person to perform in the way of writing the less writing they are able to produce. Children with dysgraphia are often labeled as lazy or stubborn because they are known to give up when the pressure becomes insurmountable. Many dysgraphic children will refuse to write anything at all when the pressure becomes too much to handle and parents find themselves locked in a stalemate between the teacher and the student.
Hates to color. How often do you hear small children complaining that they hate to color and they hate coloring books? Not very often. Kids are notorious for loving crayons and markers and are often drawing on inappropriate objects at inappropriate times but not a dysgraphic kid. Coloring presents a whole new set of challenges for those with dysgraphia. Staying inside the lines becomes a much hated chore until eventually they refuse to color at all.
Has trouble connecting the dots. Children with dysgraphia can not connect-the-dots so easily. They lack the motor skill development to draw straight lines and their connect-the-dots papers sometimes look like scribbled mess. They have the understanding of the project and are often frustrated with penmanship exercises that involve connecting the dots or following pre-made letters fashioned with dashes.
Doesn't like legos or other small blocks. Doctors often recommend legos and blocks for hyper children and they can be wonderful tools to challenge the mind, however a dysgraphic kid sees these toys as torture devices. The motor skill development it takes to properly stack blocks and build with legos has been delayed and they simply are unable to take on such tasks. These are great tools for rehabilitating older dysgraphic children but should not be forced on small children with dysgraphia.
Has strong verbal skills. Children with dysgraphia live inside their own heads. They rely on verbal communication to survive because written expression eludes them. These children are known to have large vocabularies and extensive reading collections.