Dyslexia vs Dysgraphia: Signs, Differences, and Overlap
Dysgraphia & Dyslexia
Understanding the signs, differences, and overlaps between the two most common types of learning disabilities.
Introduction
Learning disabilities can be tricky and affect different parts of a child's schoolwork and everyday life. Two common ones are dyslexia and dysgraphia. Even though they can happen together, they are different in many ways. This blog will help you understand the signs, differences, and how they overlap. We'll also share a free guide to help you learn about the three main types of learning disabilities.
What is Dyslexia?
According to the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), dyslexia is defined as
“. . .a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.”
Simple Definition of Dyslexia
Dyslexia is when a child or person struggles to read because they can’t easily recognize the sound-symbol relationship of the letters in front of them. For example, they might have difficulty quickly recalling if a letter is a "b" or "d" or have trouble recognizing if an "f" or "r" comes first in a word.
These difficulties come from two main areas:
Phonological Processing:
Phonology relates to sounds, and processing relates to understanding information.
People with dyslexia have a hard time understanding the sounds in words. This includes putting sounds in order, blending them together, breaking them apart, and mixing them around, all of which are crucial for reading.
Rapid Automatic Naming:
This is the ability to quickly recall from long-term memory what letters look like and then apply the sounds to them.
It can also apply to strings of letters known as spelling patterns. Children with dyslexia may read words that look similar but sound different or guess the word based on the beginning letters because their verbal ability (their ability to make sense of information on a language level) is faster than their ability to quickly apply the look and sound of letters.
Dyslexia is Not the Only Learning Disability in Reading
Dyslexia is not the only learning disability related to reading; it's just one of three! This distinction is important because if your child can read the words "okay" but struggles to read quickly or understand what they read, they may not have dyslexia. However, they could still have a learning disability in reading. (Another Blog Post on the way 👇)
Be on the look out for our blog post about other reading disabilities!
Or better yet, become a subscriber and never miss a post.
Specific Signs of Dyslexia
Reading Difficulties: Individuals with dyslexia often read below their expected level based on their age and intelligence. They may have slow and laborious reading habits.
Phonemic Awareness: Struggling with recognizing and working with sounds in spoken language, such as rhyming or breaking words into individual sounds.
Spelling Challenges: Frequent spelling mistakes, often phonetically inaccurate, such as writing "bof" instead of "both."
Difficulty Decoding: Problems sounding out unfamiliar words, often guessing based on the first few letters.
Poor Reading Comprehension: Because so much effort is spent on decoding words, comprehension can suffer.
Misreading Words: Often mistaking one word for another that looks similar, leading to misinterpretation of the text.
💟Check out our complete “What is Dyslexia” Blog Post HERE
What is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that makes writing hard. It means having a tough time getting what’s in your mind onto paper. This happens because of difficulties with motor skills in your hand, visual-motor integration (copying what you see), and orthographic processing (remembering the shapes of letters and numbers). Dysgraphia also involves problems with executive functions, making it hard to quickly plan, edit, and recall what you’re writing. People with dysgraphia often think and recall visual information slowly, and may have trouble with visual-spatial integration (seeing and understanding where things are in space). These issues make it hard to fill in blanks on worksheets, complete crossword puzzles, line up math digits, and even connect -the -dots.
Dysgraphia can be confused or (in some states) overlap with a learning disability known as “Written Expression Disorder”, which has more to do with getting ideas out of the head and onto paper. For the purpose of this post, we’ll talk about them interchangeably. A blog post discussing the unique and nuanced differences between Dysgraphia and Written Expression Disorder is in the works; for now, you can visit Understood.org for more.
Specific Signs of Dysgraphia
Poor Handwriting: Illegible writing, inconsistent letter sizes, and spacing. Writing that drifts off the lines of the paper.
Spelling Issues: Similar to dyslexia, but often includes trouble with spelling even simple words correctly.
Slow Writing Speed: Taking much longer to write than peers due to the effort involved in forming letters and words.
Inconsistent Letter Formation: The same letter may be formed differently each time it is written.
Difficulty Organizing Thoughts on Paper: Struggling to translate thoughts into written words and sentences, leading to disorganized or incomplete writing. (also known as “Written Expression” disorder")
Copying Text Errors: Making mistakes when copying text from a board or book, such as skipping words or lines.
An Example of Writing from a Child with Dysgraphia👇
Dysgraphia Writing Example
This shows two different activities: 1) rapid sentence copying and 2) rapid alphabet writing
Just looking at the paper, we notice that even when copying, the child misspells words (quick) and flips letters (the ‘z’ in lazy). Also, letter sizes vary and rounded letters are oddly formed.
When writing the alphabet, there were several self-corrections, switching between capital and lower case, and letters out of sequence.
What we don’t see on the paper, is that this child scores “Below-Average” in speed for their grade when writing. Also, the child whispered to themselves, copied letter-by-letter, and shook their hand out often.
💟Check out our complete “What is Dysgraphia” Blog Post HERE
Differences Between Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
While dyslexia and dysgraphia share some overlapping symptoms, particularly in spelling and writing difficulties, they are distinct disorders with unique characteristics.
Dyslexia vs. Dysgraphia: Key Differences
Primary Area of Difficulty:
Dyslexia: Primarily affects reading skills, including decoding, fluency, and comprehension.
Dysgraphia: Primarily affects writing skills, including handwriting, spelling, and organizing written work.
Nature of the Disorder:
Dyslexia: Language-based disorder related to phonological processing.
Dysgraphia: Writing-based disorder often involving fine motor skills and visual-motor integration.
Manifestation in Schoolwork:
Dyslexia: Struggles are most apparent in reading assignments and reading comprehension tasks.
Dysgraphia: Struggles are most apparent in written assignments, note-taking, and copying text.
Cognitive Processes Involved:
Dyslexia: Involves difficulties with phonemic awareness, decoding, and reading fluency.
Dysgraphia: Involves difficulties with motor planning, fine motor skills, and the physical act of writing.
Overlapping Symptoms
Despite their differences, dyslexia and dysgraphia can co-occur and share some overlapping symptoms. It's not uncommon for a child to have both conditions, which can complicate diagnosis and intervention. Here are some areas of overlap:
Spelling Difficulties: Both conditions often involve poor spelling skills. Dyslexic individuals struggle due to difficulties with phonological processing, while dysgraphic individuals may struggle with both phonological and visual-motor integration aspects.
Writing Challenges: Both can result in poor writing skills, though the underlying reasons differ. Dyslexia affects the language aspect of writing, while dysgraphia affects the physical act of writing.
Slow Academic Progress: Both conditions can lead to slower progress in school due to the increased time and effort required for reading and writing tasks.
Frustration and Avoidance: Children with either condition may become frustrated with reading and writing tasks and may try to avoid them, leading to a cycle of academic challenges.
How Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Impact Daily Life
Both dyslexia and dysgraphia can significantly impact daily life, not just academic performance. Understanding these impacts can help in providing the right support and accommodations.
Dyslexia:
Reading for Pleasure: Individuals with dyslexia may avoid reading for pleasure due to the difficulty and effort involved.
Following Written Instructions: They may struggle with understanding and following written instructions, which can affect tasks at school and home.
Building Vocabulary: Difficulty reading can limit exposure to new words, impacting vocabulary development.
Dysgraphia:
Writing Tasks: Completing written assignments, taking notes, and even writing a simple list can be challenging and time-consuming.
Expressing Ideas: Difficulty writing can limit the ability to express ideas clearly and effectively.
Fine Motor Skills: Tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces, can also be affected.
Interventions and Support Strategies
Effective interventions and support strategies are crucial for helping individuals with dyslexia and dysgraphia succeed academically and in daily life.
I highly recommend educational therapy through the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD). Although I no longer provide intervention as an NILD educational therapist, the growth I saw in students of all different abilities was vastly different compared to any other intervention program I’ve even been a part of. I am not an affiliate of NILD. Find an Educational Therapist here: https://nild.org/find-a-therapist
For Dyslexia:
Phonics-Based Instruction: Systematic phonics instruction can help improve decoding and reading fluency.
Reading Aloud: Encouraging reading aloud can help improve reading skills and confidence.
Assistive Technology: Tools like audiobooks and text-to-speech software can provide support for reading and comprehension.
Multi-Sensory Learning: Engaging multiple senses can reinforce learning and retention.
For Dysgraphia:
Handwriting Practice: Consistent practice with writing can help improve handwriting skills and speed.
Typing Instruction: Learning to type can provide an alternative to handwriting and improve written communication.
Graphic Organizers: Tools that help organize thoughts and ideas before writing can improve the quality and coherence of written work.
Assistive Technology: Tools like speech-to-text software can reduce the physical effort of writing and allow focus on content.
The Importance of Early Identification and Intervention
Early identification and intervention are crucial for managing dyslexia and dysgraphia. The earlier these conditions are identified, the sooner appropriate support and accommodations can be provided, improving academic and life outcomes.
Signs to Watch For:
Preschool Years: Delayed speech, difficulty learning new words, and trouble with rhyming games.
Early Elementary: Difficulty learning letter names and sounds, trouble reading simple words, and reluctance to read aloud.
Later Elementary and Beyond: Persistent spelling errors, slow reading rate, and difficulty with writing assignments.
Download Our Free Guide
Understanding learning disabilities is the first step in providing effective support. Our free guide, "The 3 Main Types of Learning Disabilities: What Every Parent Needs to Know," offers valuable insights into dyslexia, dysgraphia, and other common learning disabilities.
The Guide Includes:
Clarity: Gain a comprehensive understanding of your child's unique learning needs and challenges.
Information: Learn when and how to seek professional evaluations, and what to expect from the process.
Peace of Mind: Know the signs and symptoms of learning struggles and understand if your child's difficulties are typical or if they need further assessment.
Bonuses:
Checklists for evaluating hearing, vision, memory, motor skills, and sleep quality. These tools can help identify potential underlying issues contributing to your child's learning difficulties and guide appropriate interventions.
Download your free guide today and take the first step towards empowering your child’s educational journey!
Conclusion
Dyslexia and dysgraphia are complex learning disabilities that require careful diagnosis and tailored interventions. Understanding their specific signs, differences, and areas of overlap can help parents, educators, and professionals provide the necessary support to help individuals with these conditions succeed academically and in daily life. By being informed and proactive, we can create an environment where all children have the opportunity to thrive.
