Dysspelling or dysgraphia

A child whose writing is hard to read and full of mistakes: dysspelling or dysgraphia? Both disorders affect writing, but not in the same way. One affects the spelling of words, the other the movement of writing. Here is how to tell them apart. Identifying the disorder correctly helps you choose the right professional.

Dysspelling

Dysspelling is a disorder of spelling. The child finds it hard to write words correctly: confusion of sounds, errors in agreement, words poorly memorised. Their errors persist even when they take their time.

Their handwriting may be legible and well formed, but full of mistakes. The problem is not the shape of the letters, but the choice of letters.

It is the speech and language therapist who diagnoses it and provides remediation. Remediation works on memory for words and on the rules. See what is dysspelling.

Dysgraphia

Dysgraphia is a disorder of the movement of writing. The child finds it hard to form letters and to write fluently and legibly. They may also hold their pencil tightly or adopt poor posture.

Their handwriting is often slow, uneven and hard to read, with badly formed or poorly joined letters. They may also have hand pain. These difficulties make writing tiring and sometimes painful.

It is diagnosed and remediated by a handwriting therapist (graphotherapist), a psychomotor therapist or an occupational therapist. The handwriting assessment evaluates the speed and quality of writing.

How to tell them apart

A simple question helps: do the errors come from the spelling of words, or from the shape of the letters? Watching the child write often gives good clues.

If the child writes legibly but makes many spelling mistakes, dysspelling is more likely. If the handwriting is hard to read, slow and painful, dysgraphia is more likely. The two profiles can, however, overlap.

On a keyboard, an isolated dysgraphia improves markedly, whereas dysspelling persists. This keyboard test is an interesting indicator, but it does not replace an assessment.

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When both are associated

The two disorders can coexist. The child then has difficulties both forming letters and spelling words. This double difficulty can greatly slow the child down.

Dysgraphia can make dysspelling worse: when the movement demands too much attention, less remains for spelling. The child then makes even more mistakes when they must write quickly.

See dysspelling and fatigue. Easing the movement often frees up attention for spelling.

Diagnosis

Dysspelling is diagnosed through a speech and language therapy assessment of written language. Dysgraphia is diagnosed through an assessment of handwriting, by a handwriting therapist, psychomotor therapist or occupational therapist. Both assessments can be carried out in parallel.

If you have any doubt, start by talking to your GP, who will refer you to the right professional. A joint view from professionals helps to properly understand the profile.

See the speech and language therapy assessment. The report from each assessment sets out the child’s needs.

Support

Dysspelling is remediated through speech and language therapy. Dysgraphia is worked on through handwriting therapy, psychomotor therapy or occupational therapy, and a computer is often suggested. A computer eases the movement, but does not on its own correct spelling.

When both are associated, the two types of support can complement each other. The professionals can coordinate for consistent support.

See the computer. Each type of support has its own goals.

Adjustments

For both disorders, school adjustments are possible: extra time, photocopies of lessons, use of a computer, spelling not penalised. These adjustments can be modified over the course of the year.

The PAP can bring together the adjustments linked to both difficulties. The report from the assessments helps to justify them.

See the PAP. Regular communication with the school makes them easier to put in place.

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Questions that keep coming up

What is the difference between dysspelling and dysgraphia ?

Dysspelling affects the spelling of words, dysgraphia affects the movement of writing. These are two distinct disorders of written language.

Who diagnoses dysgraphia ?

A handwriting therapist (graphotherapist), a psychomotor therapist or an occupational therapist, depending on the case. The handwriting assessment evaluates the speed and quality of writing.