Marcus, an 8-year-old boy with a specific learning disability (SLD), has difficulty with letter-size formation and word spacing, has poor spelling, and often complains of his hand being sore after writing because of an awkward pencil grip. The preceding symptoms are most often associated with which of the following?

Marcus, an 8-year-old boy with a specific learning disability (SLD), has difficulty with letter-size formation and word spacing, has poor spelling, and often complains of his hand being sore after writing because of an awkward pencil grip. The preceding symptoms are most often associated with which of the following?

• A. Dysgraphia
• B. Dyslexia
• C. Dyspraxia
• D. Dyscalculia

Answer: (A)

Handwriting-specific learning difficulty is the focus here. The combination of trouble with letter-size formation, inconsistent word spacing, and an awkward pencil grip that makes writing painful fits dysgraphia, a disability that impairs the physical act of writing and the ability to produce legible, organized written work. Spelling struggles can accompany dysgraphia because the act of putting letters on the page is affected, and fine-motor control needed for writing is compromised. Dyslexia centers on reading and phonological processing, not handwriting quality. Dyspraxia involves broader motor coordination and planning across many tasks, though it can affect writing; the key issue in this case is the specific difficulty with handwriting itself. Dyscalculia is a math-related learning disability, not about writing.

Handwriting-specific learning difficulty is the focus here. The combination of trouble with letter-size formation, inconsistent word spacing, and an awkward pencil grip that makes writing painful fits dysgraphia, a disability that impairs the physical act of writing and the ability to produce legible, organized written work. Spelling struggles can accompany dysgraphia because the act of putting letters on the page is affected, and fine-motor control needed for writing is compromised.

Dyslexia centers on reading and phonological processing, not handwriting quality. Dyspraxia involves broader motor coordination and planning across many tasks, though it can affect writing; the key issue in this case is the specific difficulty with handwriting itself. Dyscalculia is a math-related learning disability, not about writing.