Dysorthographia in girls and boys

It is often said that dys disorders affect boys more. Is this true for dysorthographia? And if so, why? The reality is more nuanced than it appears, and girls are sometimes identified later. Here is what you need to know so as not to miss any child. Because a disorder that cannot be seen is also a disorder that goes untreated.

Boys more often diagnosed

In clinics and statistics, boys are more often diagnosed with a written language disorder than girls. This is true for dyslexia as well as dysorthographia. This finding is seen in many countries, not only in France.

The gap varies between studies. It is more marked in groups of children referred to clinics than in studies conducted across all pupils, where it is more modest. The figures therefore depend greatly on how children are identified and referred.

This difference suggests that part of the gap comes from the way difficulties are identified, and not only from a real difference in frequency between girls and boys. Both sexes can be affected, and neither should be overlooked.

Why boys are identified more

Boys who struggle at school are more likely to express it through their behaviour: restlessness, defiance, refusal to work. These behaviours draw the attention of teachers and parents, who then look for an explanation. These are often the children who are sent first to the GP or the speech therapist.

Attention disorders, more often diagnosed in boys, are also frequently associated with dysorthographia. A restless boy who struggles with writing will quickly be referred for an assessment. The behaviour draws attention, and the assessment then reveals the written language disorder.

There is probably also a biological component to the difference in frequency, but it is still poorly understood. Researchers continue to study the question. The explanations are likely to be multiple, both biological and linked to identification.

Girls, often identified later

Girls who struggle are often more discreet. They compensate through hard work, great diligence and neat handwriting. Their mistakes are put down to tiredness or a lack of confidence. Their well-kept exercise books can be misleading, while the mistakes remain numerous.

They may also express their distress more inwardly: anxiety, stomach aches before dictations, sadness, perfectionism. These signs are less visible than restlessness, and less often linked to a disorder. They are sometimes interpreted as a character trait rather than a call for help.

As a result, their dysorthographia is sometimes diagnosed late, at secondary school or even later, after years of exhausting effort. This delay in diagnosis can have a significant cost for their confidence and well-being. See the signs in adolescents.

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The same signs in all children

The signs of dysorthographia are the same in girls and boys: numerous and persistent errors, phonetic spelling, forgotten agreements, great inconsistency, a gap between spoken and written language. These signs should prompt a consultation, whatever the child’s sex.

What often differs is how the child reacts to their difficulties. A boy may reject writing, while a girl may exhaust herself trying to do well. But the underlying disorder is the same. Some children even alternate between the two reactions depending on the period.

So do not be reassured by neat handwriting or a well-behaved child. It is the errors themselves and their persistence that matter. A calm, diligent child may need just as much help as a restless one. See the signs of dysorthographia.

Watch for indirect signs in girls

In girls, be alert to indirect signs: very long homework sessions, anxiety before written assessments, crying, a feeling of never being good enough despite all their efforts. She may also complain of headaches or stomach aches on dictation days.

A girl who works enormously hard for average written results, while managing well orally, shows the same mismatch as a dysorthographic boy. This mismatch deserves to be explored. She may also feel less intelligent than her classmates, which is untrue.

Do not hesitate to speak to the teacher and the GP, even if grades remain satisfactory. Exhaustion is also a signal. The child’s well-being matters as much as their results. See dysorthographia and anxiety.

The same support for everyone

Once a diagnosis has been made, the support is the same for girls and boys: speech therapy rehabilitation, school adjustments, suitable tools, support for self-confidence. The pace and goals of the rehabilitation are set according to each child’s profile.

What may vary is the emphasis placed on emotional support. A perfectionist girl will need to learn to accept mistakes, while a child who rejects writing will need to rediscover the pleasure of writing. Both need their efforts to be recognised and their successes to be celebrated.

In every case, the important thing is to adapt the help to the child’s personality. The speech therapist and the teacher can help you find the right balance. See how to help a child with dysorthographia.

The most important thing: do not wait

Whatever your child’s sex, do not wait for difficulties to become serious before seeking advice. Early identification makes it possible to start help before confidence is affected. The sooner help arrives, the more positive a self-image the child keeps.

Start with your GP, who can prescribe a speech therapy assessment. Waiting times are often long, which is why it is worth acting quickly. In the meantime, simple adjustments can already be put in place in the classroom.

If you have a son and a daughter, do not compare their difficulties: each child expresses their disorder in their own way. Every child deserves an attentive look at their difficulties, without comparison. See who to consult for dysorthographia.

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Questions that keep coming up

Are boys more affected by dysorthographia? ?

They are more often diagnosed, but the gap is partly linked to identification: boys who struggle attract more attention through their behaviour. The true gap between girls and boys is probably smaller than consultations suggest. Girls and boys should therefore be identified with the same care.

Why are girls identified later? ?

They often compensate through intense work and great diligence, and express their difficulties more discreetly, through anxiety or perfectionism. Their difficulties therefore pass more easily unnoticed. Pay particular attention to exhaustion and anxiety.

Are the signs different depending on sex? ?

No, the typical errors are the same. What often differs is how the child reacts to their difficulties. Rely on the errors and their persistence, not on behaviour. It is the errors themselves, their number and their persistence that should raise concern.