Date:14/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/quest/200712/stories/2007121450200700.htm Quest
Writing dilemma DR. VIVEK SHARMA Dysgraphia is an inability to write, despite the ability to read. Writing, when properly managed is but a different name for conversation. - Starne, Laurence Many people have trouble writing and even great writers face a "writer's block". However, there are some who are diagnosed with Dysgraphia, or agraphia - a deficiency in the ability to write, regardless of the ability to read. This is not due to intellectual impairment. It is a neuro-biologically based learning disability in which there is difficulty in automatically remembering and mastering the sequence of muscle motor movements needed in writing letters and numbers. Concern and care When diagnosed in children, there is a possibility for multiple dysgraphics to be present in his/her family. A parent or close relative of the child tends to show signs of dysgraphia. Dysgraphic children need treatment for motor disorder to control the movement of hand writing, to treat impaired memory or other neurological problem. Consultation with occupational therapist can improve muscle tone, dexterity and eye-hand coordination. Many famous people like General George. S. Patton, Albert Einstein, Louis Pasteur, Agatha Christie have struggled with this. Emotional factors arising from dysgraphia often exacerbate matters. Caregivers and teachers should have compassion towards dysgraphics and they should know that this issue has nothing to do with intelligence or behaviour. The resulting acceptable anger and frustration can prevent their ever reaching their true potential. The writer is a Jaipur-based Consultant Paediatrician. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Important indicators Little written output inappropriate to a child's age, reading and verbal ability. Death grip and inappropriate grip of pencils. Awkard positioning of the body, bending too close to the paper. Avoidance of writing tasks. Excessive number of erasures Confusion in directional orientation such as mirror writing (p/a, b/d, was/saw) and reversals. Poor use of space, inadequate space between letters and words, inappropriate letter size relationship and inability to stay with in head and box lines. Poor letter connections and illegible letters. Inaccuracies such as omissions, lack of punctuation, line skipping. Difficulty in dictation writing. What to do Use jumbo pencils it gives them a firmer grip. Use pre-lined paper, its easier to write on. Allow students extra time to complete assignments. Allow children to dictate to an adult, they can then re-copy later. Allow children to dictate into a tape recorder that can be written down later. Give positive inputs for improvement. Allow them to type work instead of writing. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
