Writing disorder - Dysgraphia:

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The problem may be in writing specific words or in writing in general.

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder characterised by writing disabilities (Distorted or in correct writing) that affects handwriting and fine motor skills.

The disorder generally emerges when the child is first introduced to writing, In addition to poor handwriting children also display:

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• Inappropriately sized and spaced letters,

• Write wrong or misspelled words, despite thorough instruction such as by wrong or odd spelling, and production of words that are not correct (e.g.: using "boy" for “child”)

• Difficulty to articulating thoughts on paper

• Difficulty following a line or staying within margins

• Pronounced difference between spoken and written understanding of a topic, however, children usually have no social or other academic problems.

Some children with dysgraphia improve their writing ability, but for others, the disorder persists.

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The prevalence of mathematical learning difficulties’ in the UK is about 25%. and often devastating in their impact on schooling, further and higher education and jobs.

Developmental Dyscalculia often occurs in association with other developmental disorders such as dyslexia or ADHD/ADD.

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Typical symptoms of dyscalculia/mathematical learning difficulties:

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• Has difficulty when counting backwards.

• Has a poor sense of number and estimation.

• Has difficulty in remembering ‘basic’ facts, despite many hours of practice/rote learning.

• Has no strategies to compensate for lack of recall, other than to use counting.

• Has difficulty in understanding place value and the role of zero in the Arabic/Hindu number system.

• Has no sense of whether any answers that are obtained are right or nearly right.

• Tends to be slower to perform calculations. (Therefore give less examples, rather than more time).

• Forgets mathematical procedures, especially as they become more complex, for example ‘long’ division.

• Addition is often the default operation. The other operations are usually very poorly executed (or avoided altogether).

• Avoids tasks that are perceived as difficult and likely to result in a wrong answer.

• Weak mental arithmetic skills.

• High levels of mathematics anxiety.

 

Ref: British Dyslexia Association

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Cambridge Medical Centre (CMC) Child & Adolescent Mental Health information publications Copyright 2018.