Some might be surprised to learn that there are several types of learning disabilities. Dysgraphia is describes as a learning disability that affects writing, spelling and fine motor skills. Dysgraphia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can occur as a stand alone disorder or part of a co-occurring disorder with other disabilities such as ADHD, Autism, and Dyslexia. Typically it is diagnosed or discovered in the early years when children are beginning to learn how to write. Most adults often remain undiagnosed.
Early Signs of Dysgraphia
Signs and symptoms of dysgraphia generally begin to show up when children began to lean how to write. Early signs of Dysgraphia include:
- Inconsistent spacing between letters
- Poor spatial planning
- Poor spelling
- Unable to read own handwriting
- Poor fine motor skills
- Omitted words
- Writes slow
- Pain in hand from writing
- Messy unorganized papers
- Difficulty organizing thoughts on paper
- Illegible printing and cursive letter formation
- Slopping handwriting
- Tight, cramped pencil grip
- Tires quickly when writing
- mixes upper and lower case or irregular sizes and shapes of letters.
Download a free dysgraphia checklist
Signs and Symptoms in the Workplace
A early signs that rarely disappears is having a “sloppy” handwriting. The person when writing leaves out letters at the end of a sentence, difficulty reading own handwriting after meetings, trouble with filling out routine forms, displays unorganized papers on the desk, difficulty thinking and writing at the same time and tends to mixes upper and lower case letters when writing. The person will also avoid writing when possible and show a preference to using a computer or texting neatness, line spacing, staying inside margins and capitalization rules.
Strategies to Use in the Workplace
- If you have a smart phone, you can use the device to record meetings, interviews or instructions that are given to you.
- Assitive technology such as tablets, computers and Apps are also useful in transcribing information
- Take the time to organize your desk before you leave work in the evening. Prioritize your workflow and create a plan for the next day.
- Pre-write. Before you take on the task of writing, create an outline on paper.
