Indicators of Dygraphia

Information adapted from Cleveland Clinic and ADDittude

General Indicators of Dysgraphia

People with dysgraphia may have several different difficulties when it comes to writing and may speak more easily and fluently than they write. 

They may have issues with:

• Letter formation and/or legibility

• Letter size and spacing

• Spelling

• Fine motor coordination

• Rate or speed of writing

• Grammar

• Composition

They may also have:

• Difficulties writing in a straight line

• Difficulties with holding and controlling a writing tool

• Difficulties remembering the correct orientation of letters

• Trouble recalling how letters are formed

• Trouble knowing when to use lower or upper case letters

• Trouble forming letters shapes

They may:

• Struggle to form written sentences with correct grammar and punctuation

• Omit words from sentences

• Incorrectly order words in sentences

• Use verbs and pronouns incorrectly

• Have tight, awkward, or painful grip on a pencil

• Difficulty following a line or staying within margins

• Trouble with sentence structure or following rules of grammar when writing, but not when speaking

• Difficulty organizing or articulating thoughts on paper

• Show a pronounced difference between spoken and written understanding of a topic

Information adapted from Cleveland Clinic and ADDittude

Signs of Dysgraphia in Mid/Upper Primary 

• Writing is slow and laborious

• Difficulties are more apparent as demands on writing ability increase through middle and upper primary school

• Process of writing is effortful and tiring

• Poor knowledge of writing conventions, such as punctuation, as well as lack of automaticity in spelling

• Difficulty choosing correct spelling alternatives

• Sentence and paragraph structure is poor

• Inconsistency between verbal ability and written skills

• Apparent gap between oral and written language skills