Does your child suffer from dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder in handwriting. Patients with dysgraphia have difficulty writing words correctly; they process the words they see and hear differently. This condition causes them to write words with the letters out of order, backward — like dyslexics — and, in most cases, have illegible handwriting.

There are different dysgraphia tests in various areas that result in the diagnosis of dysgraphia. These areas include intelligence tests, working memory, writing and spelling ability, phonological awareness tests, and recall measures of fluency.

Intelligence Tests

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale is taken with children between 6 and 16 years old, during the process of determining the diagnosis of dysgraphia. This test is applied in a set of 10 tests with 5 subtests, among them, verbal and performance IQ, verbal comprehension and processing speed.

The Cognitive Rating System is a test that measures a child’s cognitive processing ability. It includes simulation of test administrator actions and planning techniques involving small processes, such as building blocks.

Working Memory

The Woodcock-Johnson III test of cognitive skills includes a series of composite oral tests in spelling, math, and reading. Assesses specific cognitive functions that identify the child’s disability and strengths within these three subjects.

The Memory and Learning Variation assessment is applied throughout the school system, starting in kindergarten and ending when the student is in their senior year of high school. It is an ongoing process that measures a child’s rate of learning and retaining information.

Writing and Spelling Skills

The Wechsler Test of Individual Achievement is also administered throughout a child’s academic career. However, with regard to dysgraphia, this test allows for written responses and, in some cases, essays. This allows administrators and teachers to assess whether the child demonstrates dysgraphic handwriting or, in the case of those already diagnosed, evaluate the process done during the school year. The Woodcock-Johnson III series also covers the same material.

Phonological Awareness Tests

Phonological awareness tests include C-Topp, Word Attack and Phonological Processing. These tests assess interpretations made by children in response to spoken words, cards and, in some cases, objects. The key to evaluating children with dysgraphia is that spoken words are often misinterpreted when repeated to them. When asked to write the name of the chosen media, the child often chooses wrongly or in the wrong order.

Recovery of Fluency Measures

Fluency measures recall tests include assessments such as NEPSY, Expressive Code and Sentence Sense, and Spoken Word Control Association. They are administered by asking children to identify a card or object, as well as creating sentence structures. Children suffering from dysgraphia cannot assemble structures that make sense, with words placed in the wrong places and, sometimes, misspelled.