Disorder of written expressionDefinition: Disorder of written expression is a childhood condition characterized by poor writing skills.
Alternative Names: Written expression disorder
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: To some extent, 3 - 10% of school-age children are affected by this disorder. Children with disorder of written expression have trouble with spelling, make frequent errors in punctuation and grammar, and have poor handwriting. This disorder appears by itself or in conjunction with other learning disabilities. Other disabilities often linked with the disorder of written expression include the following:
Symptoms: - Poor spelling
- Errors in grammar
- Errors in punctuation
- Poor handwriting
Signs and tests: Other causes of learning disabilities will need to be ruled out before the diagnosis can be confirmed.
Treatment: Remedial education is the best approach to this type of disorder.
Expectations (prognosis): The degree of recovery depends on the severity of the disorder. Marked improvement is often seen after treatment.
Complications: - Problems with socialization
- Learning problems
- Low self-esteem
Calling your health care provider: Parents who are concerned about their child's language ability should have the child tested by educational professionals.
Prevention: Learning disorders often run in families. Affected or potentially affected families should make every effort to recognize problems early. Intervention can begin as early as preschool or kindergarten.
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