What is dysgraphia?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2023), dysgraphia is a neurological learning disorder that is characterized by handwriting impairment. It causes a student's writing to be distorted and unclear. Students with dysgraphia often struggle with a wide range of tasks, including:

• writing appropriately sized and spaced letters; 

• spelling words;

• recalling how to write certain letters; 

• writing in a fast manner; and 

• planning any sequential movements needed to write.

Furthermore, there are two major types of dysgraphia: developmental dysgraphia and acquired dysgraphia (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Developmental dysgraphia is generally manifested in students as they begin to write. However, acquired dysgraphia is developed in students when they experience head or brain injuries. Overall, estimates reveal that 5% to 20% of students in the United States have dysgraphia.