Author: Brett McCardel, MS, CCC-SLP
โ๐ผ A writing problem following neurological damage is known as ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ต๐ถ๐ฎ โ๐ผโฃ
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Agraphia can have both a ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฐ๐ณ component and a ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ถ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ component. The motor component involves difficulties with formation of letter shapes, while the language component involves difficulties with spelling ๐โฃ
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If you suspect there are motor difficulties, be sure to refer to an ๐ข๐ฐ๐ฐ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ถ๐๐ so that they can manage the fine motor aspects of writing! ๐๐ผโฃ
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A variety of written language disorders can be expressed after brain damage, with very few people with the diagnosis of โagraphiaโ looking exactly alike. The study of these different forms of written language disorders has allowed for the delineation of distinct cognitive components of writing ๐งฉ โฃ
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This in turn has contributed to the development of psycholinguistic models that conceptualize the writing system as a set of interacting yet discrete cognitive mechanisms. Knowing the exact breakdown of our patientโs difficulties is pivotal in treatment planning ๐ โฃ
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Thankfully, there are a variety of effective, evidence-based treatment approaches and assistive technology to help manage agraphia. Whether you want to get back to writing emails to a friend or signing your name on any dotted lines you come across, Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists can help!โฃ
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#aphasia #aphasiatherapy #neurorehabilitation #medslp #writing #agraphia