Open Discussion about Autism and Handwriting

2 December, 2011 - English, Open Discussion, The Autism News, Weekly Guests

The Autism News | Special Guest

From Craig M.

Why is handwriting so difficult for my autistic son?

Thank you for your participation.

Please read our disclaimer.

Please share your reaction! Give your opinion via Facebook or by filling out the form below.

Share this news with friends, family, or colleagues by clicking on the shortcuts below:

Comments

Ian D. Burns says:

December 5, 2011 at 2:51 pm

Hello Craig,
As an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome I hope to shed light onto your situation by telling you about my own poor handwriting. As many autistics, I have sensory integration problems. These also range into vestibular (balance) and proprioceptive (body and space awareness) senses. Since these senses tend to be hyposensitive for me, when I use them to move in the way I intend, my motor coordination is subsequently poor or inept. This includes grapho-motor skills (poor handwriting). I hope this was informative and not repetitious of previous comments.

Ryann 'Donnelly' Thornton says:

December 5, 2011 at 2:22 pm

My son has Aspergers. He’s 6 and he has the handwriting problem too. He’s in therapy and it’s gotten a lot better, but he still has a long way to go. I don’t think for him it’s a hand eye coordination issue though b/c he has very good hang eye coordination. I think it’s due to a lack of developed fine motor skills that is common with Autism. Therapy is the best way to overcome it.

Jan Serne says:

December 4, 2011 at 6:47 pm

Ok. Once more. True autism is caused by the malformation of white matter in the fetal brain, resulting in grey matter anomalies due to a different pruning/reinforcing pattern. After birth this process is enhanced via environmental feedback resulting in a different makeup of the brain.

One of the area’s affected is the motor cortex resulting in bad handwriting, clumsiness, poor hand/eye coordination.

Many other syndromes are classed as autism because they have autism like symptoms but they are not Autism. This due to a poor understanding in the psychiatric community of what true autism is.

Cindy Smith Howard says:

December 3, 2011 at 6:58 pm

Hi Craig — Handwriting is also a challenge for my 7-year-old son with high-functioning autism. I enrolled him in private handwriting therapy (with an Occupational Therapist who specializes in writing therapy) and the therapist gave him a basic ambient vision screening. My son has had regular vision screenings, with “normal” 20/20 vision for many years. However, he has had deficient convergence/divergence and tracking skills that went undetected until last summer. A trip to a Behavioral/Developmental Optometrist confirmed the diagnosis and my son began Vision Therapy along with handwriting therapy (cursive writing is easier than printing). Both therapies have made an amazing difference in my son’s fine and gross motor skills, writing, reading, and visual-motor skills. Here is a fascinating book on the topic: http://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Through-New-Eyes-Developmental/dp/1843108003/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322938355&sr=1-1. I also recommend this website on Vision Therapy (where you can also find a local practitioner): http://pavevision.org/. I hope this helps.

Ann Sekerak says:

December 4, 2011 at 7:41 pm

Hi Cindy, even though I never had this issue with my son, this is very informative and I am sure will help others. I am going to pass this info along to others who I know might need it ~ thanks!

Cindy Smith Howard says:

December 4, 2011 at 10:31 pm

Ann Sekerak Thank you, Ann! ♥

Jan Serne says:

December 3, 2011 at 11:27 am

In true autism this is due to a genetic variation the white matter in the fetal brain is constructed differently. This causes anomalies in the development of the grey matter due to a different pruning/reinforcement pattern. This causes a feedback loop resulting in multiple parts of the brain being affected. After birth environmental factors again cause a feedback loop reinforcing those changes. One of the areas affected is the motor cortex. One of the symptoms of that is bad handwriting.

Unfortunately many people with autism like symptoms are classed as having autism whilst they in fact have no such altered brains clouding the issue. On can but hope that one day psychiatry catches up with neuroscience.

msamericanpatriot says:

December 2, 2011 at 11:19 pm

I am an female adult with autism. I have disgraphia just like your son does. I have been fired from a volunteer job because of my bad handwriting. It is so bad I have a hard time forcing myself to fill out forms at the doctor’s office. We, my mom and I, think it may have to do with eye/hand coordination but I am not sure really. Hope this helps.

The Autism News | Open Discussion

Open Discussion about Autism and Handwriting

Comments

Open Discussion

Zac Picto | Multimedia

Pictogram & Activites

Science Daily

Medical News Today

Disability Scoop

WebMD