Handwriting Difficulties (formly referred to as Dysgraphia)
"Strength isn't always about holding a pencil with ease; sometimes, it's in the courage to pick it up despite the struggle. In the dance of dysgraphia, every mark on the page is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the beauty of overcoming obstacles."
What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that results in impaired handwriting, impaired spelling, or both in someone of normal or above-average intelligence. It is not a mental health disorder, but rather a brain-based learning disability marked by difficulty forming letters, spelling words correctly, staying within lines, writing legibly, or organising and expressing one’s ideas on paper" (Psychology Today).
Why the shift to Handwriting Difficulties?
You may notice that some organisations, like the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and the National Handwriting Association, no longer use the term dysgraphia. Instead, they now prefer to talk about Specific Handwriting Difficulties.This language change aims to clarify and enhance support for parents, schools, and professionals. Why the shift? Dysgraphia is a term that has been used in the past to describe serious difficulties with writing, especially handwriting. But it's not a formally recognised diagnosis in many places (including the UK), and different professionals often use it to mean different things, which can be confusing. By using the term Specific Handwriting Difficulties, we can describe more precisely what the child is struggling with — whether it’s:
Fine Motor Control (How they physically hold the pen)
Letter formation of spacing
Writing Speed
Pain or fatigue during writing
Issues related to planning or sequencing their work
The benefits
The benefit of this approach is that it focuses less on labels and more on understanding exactly what kind of support a child needs. It also allows for a more tailored approach, which might include occupational therapy, assistive technology, or classroom strategies, depending on the child's profile.
So rather than trying to fit a child into a broad, unclear category like "dysgraphia," the aim is to identify and respond to the specific handwriting challenges they face.
Our Assessment
Our diagnostic assessment may help you understand why you may be struggling. Identification enables people to seek support at school, disability support through DSA funding at university, or, in the work place through the Government’s Access to Work Scheme (this includes funding and mentoring). It may help to boost confidence and self-esteem.
Our typical Handwriting Assessment
Fine Motor Skills
Detailed analysis of handwriting
Visual Motor Integration Skills
Motor Coordination Skills
Visual Perception Skills
Phonological Processing
General Ability
Working Memory
FAQ's
From 8 years old
A summary of key findings from the assessment and background information from home, school and/or other agencies. Detailed interpretation of test results, including: • General Underlying Ability: verbal and non verbal ability • Academic achievement: reading, spelling, writing, and handwriting • Cognitive processing: memory, phonological skills, and processing speed • Holistic view of assessment findings • Table of test scores • Key recommendations for supporting the learner in the following areas: • Home environment • Classroom environment • Access arrangements in exams (if appropriate) • Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), if appropriate.
Wondering if you have Handwriting Difficulties?
Book a free 15 minute Video Consultation with one of our Assessors so that we can help you plan your Assessment.