agraphia (dysgraphia)

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Introduction

Inability to express one's thoughts in writing.

Etiology

Clinical manifestations

  • children
    • generally emerges when they are first introduced to writing
    • they make inappropriately sized & spaced letters, or write wrong or misspelled words, despite thorough instruction
    • other learning disabilities may be present
    • usually have no social or other academic problem
  • adults
    • generally occur after some trauma
    • poor handwriting
    • wrong or odd spelling
    • production of words that are not correct (i.e., using 'boy' for 'child')

Diagnostic procedures

Assessment:

  • ask the patient to write a complete sentence
  • if the patient cannot write, ask him/her to dictate a sentence
  • motor system disorders produce a mechanical agraphia
  • Gerstmann syndrome produces an aphasic agraphia

Management

  • treat motor disorders to help control writing movements
  • address impaired memory or other neurological problems
  • use computers to avoid the problems of handwriting
  • prognosis
    • some individuals improve their writing ability, others do not

More general terms

References

  1. nlmpubs.nlm.nih.gov/hstat/ahcpr/
  2. Cummings, Hospital Practice, May 1993, pg 56-68
  3. NINDS Dysgraphia Information Page https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Dysgraphia-Information-Page