Many people think that dyslexia and dysgraphia are the same.

They are not.

They are both learning differences but two different conditions, which share some symptoms and often occur together in the same person.

Dyslexia is not a measure of intelligence but results from the difference originating in the way the brain processes language.

Dysgraphia is also not a measure of intelligence, but its neurological difference manifests in the child’s ability to form letters when writing.

While difficulty reading, writing, and spelling characterize dyslexia, dysgraphia mainly affects handwriting.

Both conditions are neurological and will cause children to struggle in the classroom.

Because they are both slow in completing class assignments, they may both be called “lazy” along with a few other negative labels. Often, this leads to a level of frustration and anxiety that could affect the child’s sleep, besides other things.

Children with dyslexia and dysgraphia have a few things in common: they both

• Produce written work that is below their ability level.
• Show poor vocabulary use
• Demonstrate poor spelling and grammar
• Have trouble with fluency in written expression

Let’s take a brief look at the differences between the signs children demonstrate that will help you tell these two learning differences apart:

Dyslexia	Dysgraphia
Struggles with reading	Exhibits illegible handwriting
Has difficulty with the sounds in words	Demonstrates slow, labored writing
Has trouble memorizing “sight words”	Mix print and cursive letters when writing
Avoids reading aloud	Leaves letters and words oddly spaced
Poor reading comprehension	Uses incorrect punctuation
Confuses the order of letters in words	Has trouble with the pencil grip
Has difficulty following the sequence in multi-step directions	Has difficulty organizing information when writing

Research has shown that both conditions cause processing delays in the left hemisphere of the brain when compared to children who are identified as “typical” readers and writers.

It is important that parents recognize symptoms that show the possible presence of both learning differences. They must address them early before they negatively affect their child’s confidence and self-esteem.