Evaluating Your Child for Dysgraphia

By Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D

AT A GLANCE
Dysgraphia—impaired written expression—involves more than fine motor
problems • Because dysgraphia can result from various learning issues, a thorough
evaluation must include multiple assessments to determine the root of the problem

Dysgraphia as defined in the latest edition

of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) is a “specific learning disorder” with
impairment in written expression. Writing problems can result from one or more of the
following components:

 Fine motor difficulties

 Visual-spatial difficulties
 Handwriting issues

In addition, spelling problems, difficulty with word retrieval and verbal fluency, and
language processing problems can all contribute to difficulty producing a written product.

Because dysgraphia can include various components, multiple evaluation

tools should be used to determine your child’s specific problems.
Evaluating Dysgraphia

An Occupational Therapist can evaluate the fine motor problems, but for the purposes of
identification for school services and accommodations, an evaluation by a licensed
psychologist or a certified school psychologist is needed.
Following is a list of categories, along with possible assessments, that a psychologist may
use for evaluating dysgraphia. Usually one measure is used per category. And while this
list includes many commonly used measures, it does not include all options.

Intelligence Measures- Masurarea inteligentei

 The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V)

 The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV)
 Differential Ability Scales (DAS)

Constructional Ability Capacitate de constructie

 Beery Visual-Motor Integration Test-6th edition (VMI)

 Bender Gestalt II
 NEPSY-II (Design Copying)

Working Memory Memoria de lucru

 Working memory on intelligence tests (listed above)

 Test of Memory and Learning-2 (TOMAL-2)
 Visual working memory (Finger Windows) on Wide Range Assessment of
Memory and Learning-2 (WRAML-2)

Executive Functions Functii executive

 Rey Complex Figure Test

 Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)
 NEPSY or Woodcock Johnson subtests

Writing and Spelling Skills Deprinderi/aprirudini de scris citit

 Wechsler Individual Achievement Test (WIAT-III, a preferred test of organizing

written language and usage for older children)
 Woodcock Johnson-III Tests of Achievement (WJ-III)
 Test of Written Language-4 (TOWL-4)

Phonological Awareness CONSTIENTIZARE FONOLOGICA

 Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing (C-TOPP)

 Word Decoding, Pseudoword Decoding on WIAT-III and Word Attack on the WJ-
III
 NEPSYII phonological processing

Retrieval fluency Fluenta verbala/scrisa

 WJ-III Written Fluency, Rapid Naming

  NEPSY Verbal Fluency, Speeded Coding

I also like the Process Assessment of the Learner-II (PAL-II), normed up to grade 4,
which also looks at the ability to listen and take notes. Obviously, children with
dysgraphia of all ages will have trouble taking notes; unfortunately there is not a note-
taking test for older students.

Marcia Eckerd is an evaluator, consultant, and therapist who specializes in working with
children with NLD and autism-spectrum disorders.

Related Smart Kids Topics

 Dysgraphia: An Overview
 Tackling Writing Problems
 High-Tech Help for Writing