What is Dysgraphia?

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder of written expression that impairs writing ability and fine motor skills. It can appear as difficulties with spelling and/or trouble putting thoughts on paper, which can affect an individual’s ability to convey their message. It is typically identified as a child starts to write but occasionally it may remain undiagnosed until adulthood.

Dysgraphia is often misunderstood as many parents don’t know what to expect when analysing handwriting. It is also often conflated with dyslexia when there are nuanced differences between the two conditions. Young people can be embarrassed and frustrated by their handwriting so it is important to get recommendations to work with.

Handwriting Assessment

Our handwriting assessment allows us to give individuals a clearer picture of their strengths and challenges. It is not a test but a method of identifying the individual’s learning style, in order that they can be supported. They will be assessed across a range of tasks and given the opportunity to detail anything that they feel they struggle with.

The assessment usually takes two hours, although can vary depending on circumstances, and takes place remotely. After the assessment, a full written report will be provided and we will provide you the opportunity to discuss it in further detail. We feel that it is vital that the individual who has been assessed understands what the report means for them.

The total cost of the assessment is £437.50.

What’s in an assessment?

The assessment includes a handwriting questionnaire which helps us to establish where you may need support, and puts us in the best position to help you. As well as analysing handwriting, we look at the individual’s fine motor, perceptual skills and any physical limitations to recording. We use a number of different assessments, according to age. These may include:

DASH

DVTP-3

DVTP-A

Our handwriting assessment is not a diagnostic assessment for dysgraphia but it can indicate if dysgraphia is present, alongside any other issues that may be affecting handwriting.