Symptoms of written expression disorders vary, but they can include poor or illegible handwriting, difficulty writing in a straight line, problems with spelling, and trouble using the correct amount of space between words. They can also include letters that don’t look like they are supposed to, sentences that lack logical cohesion, and paragraphs or stories that are missing elements.
Children and adults who have this disorder may also have other learning disabilities, such as dyslexia or ADHD. It can be hard to diagnose if the child has other learning and thinking challenges, so a full evaluation is needed.
The first step is to talk about your child’s symptoms and medical history with a health care provider, and then have him or her complete some tests. The doctor will ask questions about your child’s school work, and he or she will look at your child’s writing samples and test scores. If the doctor thinks your child has this disorder, he or she will refer you to a specialist who will evaluate your child’s writing skills and recommend a treatment plan.
Your child might be referred to a speech-language pathologist, psychologist or neuropsychologist for testing. These professionals can diagnose written expression disorder and other learning disabilities that affect the way people learn.
A qualified evaluator should compare multiple samples of your child’s writing with the written work normally expected from students of comparable backgrounds. The evaluator should also examine the student’s reading and language abilities.
Deficient writing skills can lead to a number of issues in the student’s life, including low self-esteem, social problems, lower grades and increased rates of school dropout, conduct and other problems. If the disorder is not diagnosed and treated, it can result in a long-term impact on your child’s academic performance, career opportunities, social development and mental health.
This is not an uncommon condition in the United States, with an estimated 5% to 20% of adults and kids experiencing some degree of writing difficulty. The term “dysgraphia” is used to describe writing challenges, but experts agree that dysgraphia is a broader term and can refer to both technical and conceptual issues with writing.
Dysgraphia can be classified as developmental or acquired, depending on when it starts. Acquired dysgraphia occurs when there is a brain injury, neurological disease, or other condition that disrupts the normal process of acquiring writing skills.
Developmental dysgraphia is usually diagnosed when a child is between the ages of four and eight years old, although it can occur at any age. It can be caused by a wide variety of factors, such as genetics or a neurological disease.
Other disorders that can cause writing difficulties include autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and specific language learning disorders, such as dyslexia. A diagnosis of written expression disorder is often made when there are other learning disabilities or other problems with reading and math.
The underlying causes of the condition are not known, but research suggests that it may be related to brain differences, as well as learning and attention problems. It is thought that these differences may lead to delays in the development of motor and visual-motor skills, which are essential for forming letters.
