Description
Handwriting difficulties are usually noticed by illegible printing or cursive. Children who are having problems with handwriting often find frustration with writing or coloring activities in school. Delayed fine motor skills and/or poor upper body strength may be present.
Symptoms
Symptoms of handwriting problems may include an immature or unusual grasp on pencil or crayon. Children may write too hard or too soft on paper. Frequent reversals may be observed. Having correct proportion of letters and spacing of words may be difficult. Children may complain of fatigue when handwriting.
What to expect during therapy
An occupational therapist will address writing readiness skills along with the use of preparation techniques to instill good writing habits. Therapy may include looking at appropriate writing grips, proper positioning, upper body strength and eye hand coordination activities. A multisensory approach is used to make handwriting fun and enjoyable.