SLD 101: Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia

This is the first of a two part series where I will introduce you to the most common types of specific learning disabilities or SLDs.

Part one is about Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia.

• Dysgraphia is a learning disability that impacts writing abilities.  And we’re not talking about just having poor handwriting, this goes well beyond that.  Dysgraphia can also impair spelling, and getting thoughts onto paper.  
• Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects the part of your brain that processes number information and therefore impacts your ability to do math

Listen to find out the signs for each and what types of supports and accomodations can help.

Resources for this episode:
General facts about learning disabilities

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/factsheets/learningdisabilities

https://www.ldonline.org/getting-started/ld-basics/what-learning-disability 

Link to Neuroversity Dyslexia Episode

https://www.neuroversitypod.com/episodes/episode/4ced2263/a-beginners-lesson-on-dyslexia-with-lorraine-hightower-certified-dyslexia-advocate-and-consultant

Dysgraphia facts:

https://www.ldonline.org/ld-topics/writing-spelling/what-dysgraphia

https://childmind.org/article/understanding-dysgraphia/

https://www.occupationaltherapy.com/articles/dysgraphia-101-introduction-and-strategies-5327#:~:text=The%20five%20different%20types%20are,phonological%20dysgraphia%2C%20and%20lexical%20dysgraphia.

 Dyscalculia Facts:

https://childmind.org/article/how-to-spot-dyscalculia/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23949-dyscalculia

https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-dyscalculia-overview-and-symptom-breakdown/

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Transcript

I’m Jessica Kidwell, and this is Neuroversity.  A space to expand our understanding of neurodiversity, and elevate neurodivergent voices and experiences.

Today is the first of a two part series about specific learning disabilities, or SLDs.  Long time listeners will know that I sometimes overly avoid the word disability when I am talking about neurodivergence.  The terms disorder or disability can sometimes medicalize a neurotype and give the impression that it is something that could or should be cured, rather than a natural variation in the way a brain is wired.  However, there are many many neurodivergent individuals who have one or more disabilities, and not talking about it doesn’t make the disabilities any easier to navigate.  Everyone with a specific learning disability is considered neurodivergent?  That’s right, welcome under the neurodivergent umbrella!  We’re so glad you are here! So Fellow curious minds, lets get started on learning about learning disabilities.

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a learning disability is difference in a person’s brain that can affect how well they read, write, speak, do math, and handle other similar tasks. And that having a learning disability, isn’t related to intelligence. It just means that the person’s brain works differently from others. In many cases, there are interventions that can help a person with learning disabilities read, write, speak, and calculate just as well or even better than someone without these disabilities.  However, specific learning disabilities are life long.  The tools that are learned by school aged children can be applied throughout their entire life.  So understanding more about your SLD is helpful, no matter your age. 

Lets talk about numbers.

In the 2022 school year in the US, more than 2.3 million school children were receiving services for specific learning disabilities.  This just includes those that have been diagnosed.  It’s important to note that there are an unknown number of children whose learning disability has not even been identified and instead has been considered either a behavioral issue or intellectual disability.  And as those 2.3 million children age out of school and move into adulthood, their learning disability stays with them throughout their life, which is why there are some estimates that 1 in 5 people in the US may have some type of learning disability.

So, What are the Specific learning disabilities I’m talking about?
 Dyslexia

Dysgraphia

Dyscalculia

Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders

And Non-verbal Learning Disabilites

Dyslexia is by far the most common learning disability, in fact dyslexia is also the most common neurodivergent neurotype.  Most people think that would be ADHD or Autism, but nope, it’s dyslexia. I did an entire episode on dyslexia way back in season 1 episode 9. I’ll link to that episode in the show notes if you want more detail about dyslexia.

In this part one episode on specific learning disabilities, I will focus on Dysgraphia and dyscalculia.  Be sure to check out part 2 for information about auditory and visual processing disorders and non verbal learning disabilities.

Dysgraphia is a learning disability that impacts writing abilities.  And we’re not talking about just having poor handwriting, this goes well beyond that.  Dysgraphia can also impair spelling, and getting thoughts onto paper.  There are motor weakness that makes the actual process of writing difficult and cognitive challenges which impact expressing oneself through writing.  Motor weakness can be identified by a prolonged inability to write letters and numbers and consistent muscle fatigue while writing.  

There are five sub-types of dysgraphia.  These include:

Dyslexic dysgraphia, where spontaneous writing is often illegible, while copied writing can be easily read.  

Motor dysgraphia, where all types of writing are illegible or difficult to produce.  

Spatial dysgraphia, where writing is not contained in the typical lines on a paper.  The handwriting and spelling can look typical, but the spacing of the writing will be impacted.

Phonological dysgraphia, is where spelling and writing are impacted

And Lexical dysgraphia is where word organization or choosing the right word can be difficult.  This type of dysgraphia is rarely diagnosed in children and is often associated with brain injury.

Some common signs of dysgraphia are weak fine motor skills, an unusual pencil grip, fatigue after writing for a short period of time, great ideas that can be described verbally but then seem stuck when it’s time to write them down, illegible handwriting, and poor spelling.  

As with any suspected issue, it’s important to remember the words persistence and prolonged:

How often does the difficulty happen?  Is it pretty consistently All the time?  Or just sometimes?  If it’s pretty consistent, that means it is a persistent problem.  And does a quick correction or reminder fix the problem?  Or does the problem seem to happen over and over, despite your attempts to fix it?  Then that means it is prolonged issue that may need a specialized professional’s help.  For dysgraphia, that would mean an occupational therapist.  Dysgraphia can be diagnosed by an OT through school or by seeking out a private evaluation.  Dysgraphia can be helped with accommodating tools like larger pencils or assistive grip devices, specialized paper that helps writing stay spatially correct, utilizing talk to text apps, and fine motor exercises.  

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects the part of your brain that processes number information and therefore impacts your ability to do math.  This SLD is really not well known and is often mislabeled or dismissed as math anxiety.  This lack of understanding means that the tools and accomodations needed are often not given to children early on, and since most math skills are built on early understanding of concepts-lack of early intervention can be very difficult to overcome later in life.  The intellectual capability to do the math is there, but without the tools on board, many children will turn into adults who avoid math and internalize a “I’m bad at math” attitude. Signs of dyscalculia included difficulty memorizing mathematical facts – like times tables or typical formulas.  Difficulty with Counting sequences such as counting backwards or counting by two. There can be a persistent use of finger counting well beyond the years finger counting is typically used.  Mental math or word problems are very difficult.  Telling time or counting money can be hard.  And again, like I said earlier, a little difficulty in some of these areas for a short time does not mean there is a learning disability.  You are looking at persistent and prolonged issues with math.  

It is estimated that 3-6% of children have dyscalculia, but since there is no definitive test that diagnosis it, dyscalculia is often missed.  So that 3-6% is probably an underrepresentation.  Dyscalculia often occurs with other learning disabilities like dyslexia, and is often found in children with ADHD.  

If you suspect you or your child may have dyscalculia, it is best to talk to a special education specialist or an education psychologist.  You will want to demonstrate the prolonged difficulty in math and show that there is average to above average academic achievement in other subjects.  If dyscalculia is diagnosed, appropriate support and accommodations can make math less overwhelming or stressful.  Visual supports such as times tables of typical formulas can be provided.  Extra time for work or tests can help as well as always having access to a calculator.  Extra tutoring to help re-build or reinforce early math foundations may be necessary.

I want to reinforce what is often forgotten about specific learning disabilities.  There is no difference on how much a student can learn.  What’s different is the way in which students learn.  Having access to educators who are trained in multiple ways of teaching can go so far in helping destigmatize learning disabilities.  And the more we talk about SLDs and help our children internalize that their brains are just wired differently, the less stigma there will be in our learning environments……we hope.

Be sure to tune into part two of this series on specific learning disabilities, where I will talk about Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders

And Non-verbal Learning Disabilites

Until then, be sure to check out what else is happening at Neuroversity on social media or online @neuroversitypod And if you learned something today-or in another episode, share it with a friend or shout me out on social media because there’s always plenty of room for other curious minds to enroll at Neuroversity.