Understanding Dysgraphia: Why Your Child Struggles with Writing

Handwriting can be a challenge for many children, but if your child avoids writing, struggles to form letters, or complains that writing hurts, it could be more than just a phase. These may be signs of dysgraphia—a specific learning disability that affects writing ability. At OrbRom Center in Phnom Penh, we help children with dysgraphia through specialized assessments and tailored therapy that makes writing less frustrating and more accessible.

What Is Dysgraphia?
Dysgraphia affects a child’s fine motor skills and ability to process written language. It can impact handwriting, spelling, sentence structure, and even the ability to put thoughts onto paper.

Common signs of dysgraphia include:

• Illegible or inconsistent handwriting

• Slow writing speed

• Poor spacing between words or letters

• Frequent erasing or rewriting

• Complaints of hand fatigue or pain

• Avoidance of writing tasks

In the image above, a young boy is focused on his writing—just like many of the students we support at OrbRom. For children with dysgraphia, this simple task can feel overwhelming without the right tools and strategies.

How OrbRom Identifies and Supports Dysgraphia
At OrbRom Center, every child begins with a comprehensive developmental assessment to understand their strengths, challenges, and learning style. If dysgraphia is suspected, we look at motor skills, writing fluency, and cognitive processing to create a personalized support plan.

Our occupational therapy services focus on building fine motor control and hand strength, while also addressing posture, grip, and writing mechanics. Therapists use activities like tracing, drawing, play-based exercises, and assistive writing tools to make writing more comfortable and effective.

Accommodations That Help
Children with dysgraphia can also benefit from academic accommodations, such as:

• Extra time for writing tasks

• The use of laptops or speech-to-text software

• Verbal responses instead of written ones for certain assignments

• Visual organizers to plan written work

We work closely with parents and schools across Phnom Penh to advocate for these adjustments and help each child succeed in a supportive learning environment.

Helping Children Gain Confidence
One of the biggest challenges with dysgraphia is the emotional toll. Children may feel “slow,” embarrassed, or anxious about schoolwork. Our team at OrbRom is committed to boosting self-esteem through encouragement, progress tracking, and celebrating small wins—like forming a full sentence or writing a story independently.

Conclusion
If your child struggles with writing and it’s impacting their confidence or school performance, they may have dysgraphia. At OrbRom Center in Phnom Penh, we offer expert assessments and therapy designed to support children in gaining writing skills and self-confidence. Book a developmental assessment or learn more about our occupational therapy services to get started.