Specific Learning Disability in Writing

Specialization Paper B-1 Unit 3.2

According to National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities Learning disabilities refers to a heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. These disorders are intrinsic to the individual, presumed to be due to central nervous system dysfunction, and may occur across the life span. Problems in self-regulatory behaviours, social perception, and social interaction may exist with learning disabilities but do not by themselves constitute a learning disability.

 Specific learning disability is a generic term which refers to a group of learning disorders with respective cognitive specific deficits.

A specific learning disability can affect how individuals learn in a variety of ways including how they take in, remember, understand or express information.
A specific learning disability may be defined as problems people encounter in learning that affect achievement and daily life skills.

Specific Learning Disability in Writing

Dysgraphia- It is coined from Greek words dys means difficult and graphia means to write. Dysgraphia is a learning disability that affects written expression. Extremely poor handwriting is sometimes called as dysgraphia. Students may be unable to transfer the input of visual information into the output of fine motor movement. They also have difficulty in the act of composing.

Thus Dysgraphia is a specific learning disability that affects writing abilities. It can manifest itself as difficulties with poor handwriting, spellings and trouble putting thoughts on paper (composing).

Characteristics of Dysgraphia:
1. Poor handwriting/writing illegibly

2. Confusion with directionality

3. Poor spelling skills 4. Difficulty with copying or completing work on a printed page 5. Difficulty taking notes from oral presentation 6. May have problems with grammar, syntax and organization

7. Demonstrates writing skills inconsistent with verbal abilities

8. Kinesthetic/Fine Motor 9. Organizational Difficulties

Symptoms of Dysgraphia: Inability to use silverware properly

Cannot correctly tie shoe laces

Unusual grip on writing instruments

Inappropriately sized letters

Spelling mistakes Incomplete sentences Have strong verbal ability but weak writing skills

Written language can be divided into: Handwriting

Spelling
Composition Learning disabled students often have difficulties in one or more of these areas.

Spelling

Handwriting

Composition

Written Language

Handwriting: The mechanical component of written expression is called handwriting. It is the particular way in which one forms letters with a pen or pencil. If a reader cannot understand the handwriting of an individual regardless of how well the passage is composed its meaning is lost. Causes of handwriting errors: 1. Poor eye hand co ordination: failure to integrate the visual image of the letter with the correct motor response. 2. Poor finer motor co ordination: poor efficiency and control of the intrinsic muscles of the hand. 3. Disorders of visual perception: poor spatial orientation. Difficulty in understanding concepts such as up, down, top, bottom which is important for correct letter formation. 4. Poor sense of directionality: gets confused with the strokes in forming letters.

1. 2. 3.
4.

Poor eye hand co ordination failure to integrate the visual image of the letter with the correct motor response.

Poor finer motor co ordination poor efficiency and control of the intrinsic muscles of the hand.

Disorders of visual perception poor spatial orientation. Difficulty in understanding concepts such as up, down
Poor sense of directionality

gets confused with the strokes in forming letters.

Symptoms/signs of handwriting error: oDifficulty with letter formation or general illegibility

oSignificant variations in size of letters

oProblems with keeping letters/words on line

oInconsistent spacing between letters and words

oContinual crowding of words at the end of a line oReversals of letters and numbers

oExtreme slowness of writing speed or writing much too quickly oComplaints of hand pain/cramping oIndiscriminate use of upper case letters

oUse of an awkward or strange-looking pencil grasp

oNot holding paper in a stable position while writing oUnusual/awkward body postures when trying to write oDisregard for punctuations

Spelling: It is defined as the proper arrangement of letters into words that are necessary for the purpose of written communication. Spelling involves the ability to learn the correspondence between phonemes (sounds) and graphemes (written letters).

Poor phoneme and grapheme association

Difficulty in auditory discrimination

Poor auditory memory

Causes

Poor sequencing ability

Poor visual memory

Signs/symptoms of spelling errors:

Spell a word too phonetically

Addition Substitution Reversals Omission Inversion

Composition:

It is the visual representation of thoughts, feelings, and ideas using symbols of the writers language system for the purpose of communication. Written composition requires many related abilities, including facility in spoken language, the ability to read, skills in spellings, legible handwriting or skills with computer key boarding, knowledge of the use of written usage and cognitive strategies to organize and plan the writing.

Written Expression involes :

1. Mechanics and Stylists

2. Ideation