Dysgraphia and Autism: Understanding Writing Challenges

Find out how dysgraphia relates to autism and how you can help your child who may have it.

Having dysgraphia can be compared to trying to write with your non-dominant hand or writing on a rough, uneven surface. It’s not just about messy handwriting. 

Research shows more of a prevalence among autistic individuals, and dysgraphia adds an additional layer of difficulty to communication and academic performance, further intensifying their daily challenges.

Addressing the issue when the affected child is younger can dramatically improve their quality of life, fostering their academic success and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, the connection between dysgraphia and autism is often overlooked by doctors and educators, but they need to stop assuming the child only has autism. 

What is dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a learning disability or difficulty whereby individuals typically lack the fine motor skills required for writing, including grip strength, fine motor control, and coordination. 

Individuals with dysgraphia often know what they want to say but have difficulty transferring those thoughts, as if there is a disconnect between their brain and hand. Completing even trivial writing tasks requires intense mental focus and can be physically exhausting. 

How dysgraphia differs in autistic individuals

Dysgraphia manifests differently for everyone. However, these are some common characteristics:

• illegible handwriting 
• inconsistent letter shapes and sizes
• difficulty spacing letters and words correctly
• difficulty organizing ideas on paper
• frustration or avoidance of writing tasks
• persistent spelling challenges even after the rules are learned

Dysgraphia is more common in autistic children due to overlapping developmental challenges such as motor coordination, sensory processing, and executive functioning. These areas of development are often less developed in autistic individuals, making writing and organizing thoughts more challenging. 

Holding a pencil can be particularly difficult, and sensory sensitivities can further complicate the writing process, as the physical act of writing may feel uncomfortable or overwhelming. Additionally, autistic individuals may experience challenges in organizing their thoughts or sequencing information, making writing an especially daunting task. 

While their ideas might be rich and complex, they may need help communicating or translating these thoughts into written form, leading to frustration or avoiding writing altogether. Children with dysgraphia may struggle to complete written assignments on time. This can lower self-esteem and cause children to withdraw from schoolwork.

Social interactions or friendships may also be affected as individuals get older and are expected to text friends but can’t. Over time, the emotional toll of dysgraphia can lead to increased anxiety, avoidance of school, and behavioral challenges. 

My adult child with severe dysgraphia chose to go to trade school rather than pursue a career in engineering because writing is such an extreme challenge.

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Diagnosis and assessment

Diagnosing dysgraphia in autistic children involves careful observation and testing. Teachers or parents may first notice that a child struggles with writing tasks or produces illegible handwriting. Still, some professionals may focus on autism being the cause of all of the challenges. 

If parents suspect it could be more than autism, they will most likely have to advocate to get the professionals to consider anything else. One client knew it was more than just autism from the time her son was three, and after ten years, she took matters into her own hands and reached out to us to help her son.

Professionals such as educational psychologists, occupational therapists, or neuropsychologists will conduct assessments that typically measure motor skills, handwriting abilities, and cognitive processes involved in writing. They may not always identify the underlying issues.

Early identification of dysgraphia is ideal because it can prevent frustration, low academic performance, and emotional struggles later in life. Early intervention allows children to develop strategies to overcome writing challenges, improving their educational and social outcomes. 

However, if your child is already older, rest assured it isn’t too late to help them.

Strategies for support

Educational accommodations can help autistic children with dysgraphia. Some recommendations include the following:

• Assistive technology: Programs such as speech-to-text or typing software allow students to bypass handwriting tasks and focus on expressing their ideas.
• Extended time for written tasks: Allowing extra time during tests and assignments reduces the stress of producing written work and enables students to perform at their best.
• Alternative forms of expression: Encouraging students to use verbal presentations, drawing, or multimedia projects helps them demonstrate their knowledge without being limited by handwriting difficulties.
• Occupational therapy (OT): This therapy is particularly effective in improving fine motor skills and hand coordination, which are critical for handwriting. OT can also focus on sensory issues, helping children feel more comfortable with the physical aspects of writing.  
• Personalized, one-on-one tutoring: Using research-based methods can help children improve their writing skills and build confidence. Tutoring should support academic growth without the frustration often associated with dysgraphia while teaching students how to type effectively and learn tools to express their knowledge in written form.
• Parental support: Creating a comfortable, distraction-free workspace and encouraging alternative forms of communication, such as typing or dictation, can alleviate the stress of writing tasks. 

Positive reinforcement and celebrating small achievements are important in building a child’s confidence.

Seek resources and support

Addressing dysgraphia requires collaboration between teachers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and parents. A multi-disciplinary approach ensures that a child’s needs are met in all areas of life, from the classroom to home. 

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Understanding and addressing dysgraphia in autistic children is vital to their overall development. Parents must continue to advocate for their children’s needs until they can advocate for themselves. 

With early intervention, the right accommodations, and support programs like tutoring, these children can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

“Understanding Dysgraphia: More Than Just Messy Handwriting” Autism and Comorbid Conditions, NeuroLaunch editorial team, August 11, 2024

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