Dysgraphia and dyscalculia are learning disorders that impact writing/spelling and maths abilities, respectively.

Studies suggest that dyscalculia could be more common among Nigerian children. However, due to limited research, these studies may not present a complete picture of the prevalence of these conditions.

This article will thoroughly explain everything you need to know about these conditions, from their characteristics and diagnosis to their management.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a neurological condition that affects writing ability. It often causes difficulties with handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts on paper.

Individuals with dysgraphia often struggle with writing mechanics, such as letter formation, spacing, and spelling.

People with dysgraphia may also encounter difficulties organizing their thoughts or expressing their ideas in writing. Holding a pencil and keeping their handwriting neat could also be challenging.

These issues can make it hard for people with dysgraphia to take notes, write essays, or fill out forms.

Types of Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia occurs in at least four ways: motor dysgraphia, spatial dysgraphia, phonological dysgraphia, and lexical dysgraphia.

1. Motor Dysgraphia

Motor dysgraphia is one of the types of dysgraphia, which refers to a problem with the fine motor skills needed for writing. People with motor dysgraphia may struggle with letter formation, sizing, spacing, and pressure.

They may also find holding a pencil or other writing tool difficult. Motor dysgraphia can occur due to issues with the coordination and control of small muscle movements.

It may also be associated with other neurological conditions like cerebral palsy or stroke.

2. Spatial Dysgraphia

Spatial dysgraphia is a type of dysgraphia that affects the spatial aspects of writing, such as letter and word spacing, sizing, and placement on the page.

People with this condition may have difficulty planning and organizing their writing structure. They may also experience visual-spatial skill issues due to problems with the brain’s visual-spatial processing parts.

3. Phonological Dysgraphia

Phonological dysgraphia affects the relationship between sounds and letters. It makes spelling words difficult, often leading to letter and word substitution errors.

Individuals with phonological dysgraphia may also have difficulty with reading and language processing, which is common in people with dyslexia.

4. Lexical Dysgraphia

Lexical dysgraphia is another type of dysgraphia that refers to a problem with accessing stored memories of words and their spelling patterns.

People with lexical dysgraphia may be able to read and spell words that they are familiar with, but they may have difficulty with new or unfamiliar words.

Lexical dysgraphia causes problems with spelling, writing fluency, and the ability to correct spelling mistakes. Issues with the brain’s ability to access stored information are common causes of this type of dysgraphia, as seen in individuals with brain injuries.

Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a learning condition that affects the ability to understand and work with numbers. It can cause difficulty with math skills such as counting, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing.

People with dyscalculia may also find comprehending fractions, decimals, and percentages challenging.

Additionally, they may struggle with tasks that involve telling time, interpreting charts and graphs, and understanding directions. It is typical to diagnose dyscalculia during childhood, especially during school age.

Types of Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia usually occurs in two variations: Acquired dyscalculia and acalulia.

1. Acquired dyscalculia

Acquired dyscalculia is a term used to describe the condition in which an individual experiences problems with number sense, maths skills, and memory.

This condition typically arises as a result of a brain injury or another acquired condition such as stroke, head injury, or neurodegenerative diseases.

People with acquired dyscalculia may exhibit similar symptoms to people with developmental dyscalculia, but their symptoms may be more severe.

2. Acalculia

With acalculia, problems with basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are severe.

Studies indicate that dyscalculia occurs when the brain’s parietal lobe is damaged. Due to its severity and rarity, acalculia may not respond to regular dyscalculia treatment.

What Are The Differences Between These Conditions?

The primary difference between these conditions is that dysgraphia affects writing skills, while dyscalculia affects maths skills. Where dyscalculia co-occurs with other learning disabilities like dyslexia, this is not the case with dysgraphia.

Neurologically, dysgraphia is associated with problems in the left parietal lobe. Dyscalculia, on the other hand, is associated with problems in the intraparietal sulcus, which is in the parietal lobe.

Dyscalculia diagnosis usually takes place in childhood, but dysgraphia can remain unidentified or undiagnosed till adulthood.

What Causes These Conditions?

There are various reasons behind dysgraphia and dyscalculia. One of the most common causes is brain damage or abnormalities that occur from birth.

Additionally, developmental disabilities, language disorders, learning disabilities, and environmental factors such as stress, trauma, or illness can also contribute to the causes can also cause these conditions.

In some cases, some individuals may have a combination of these factors.

Testing And Diagnosis

To diagnose dysgraphia, the specialist will assess the person’s writing skills and compare them to their expected ability level based on age and intelligence.

They will also examine the person’s history and development to rule out any other causes of the writing difficulties.

Similarly, a comprehensive evaluation is required to diagnose dyscalculia. This diagnosis involves reviewing the person’s medical history, assessing their academic performance, and testing their memory, attention, and other cognitive skills.

Some people may also undergo a neurological evaluation, such as electroencephalogram (EEG) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Based on the evaluation results, the professional can determine whether or not the person has dyscalculia.

How Do We Treat/Manage These Conditions?

Dysgraphia and dyscalculia are two conditions that do not currently have any cure. However, several treatment options are available to help manage their symptoms and improve the overall quality of life for those with these conditions.

Some treatment options include educational therapy, occupational therapy, and assistive technology. Educational therapy can help improve writing and math skills, while occupational therapy can enhance fine motor skills.

Additionally, assistive technology, such as spell checkers and calculators, can be beneficial. Personalizing the treatment for each individual is essential, but it may take some time to see the desired results.

How Do We Proceed From Here?

People with dysgraphia or dyscalculia can significantly benefit from identifying their strengths and engaging in enjoyable activities. It is vital to seek treatment and support, including accommodations in educational or occupational settings.

Additionally, essential strategies are cultivating self-confidence and resilience and focusing on progress rather than perfection.

References

• Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia-Teaching channel. Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.com/k12-hub/blog/dyslexia-dysgraphia-dyscalculia-difference/#:~:text=While%20dyslexia%20and%20dysgraphia%20both,students%20with%20this%20learning%20difference.
• Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia and Dyspraxia- Barnsley College. Retrieved from https://www.barnsley.ac.uk/student-life/additional-learning-support/dyslexia-dyscalculia-dysgraphia-and-dyspraxia/
• Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia: A Response to Intervention Approach to Classification. Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/79900
• The Four D’s: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia. Retrieved from https://www.fsedu.com.au/blog/the-four-ds-dyslexia-dysgraphia-dyscalculia-and-dyspraxia/
• Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia: What’s the Difference and How Are They Treated? Retrieved from https://www.amsneurology.com/post/dyslexia-dysgraphia-dyscalculia-whats-the-difference-and-how-are-they-treated