Very bad handwriting

Stone1289

Hi I’m 17 and my handwriting is terrible everyone comments on it. I do alot of writing even out side of school and it’s not getting any better it’s very embarrassing I have been practicing writing a lot lately and it’s doing nothing. To be honest I think I might be dislexic cause even reading I have to concentrate really hard and find it really hard to continue reading on to the next line. I’ve only been to my doctor once since I was about 10 and that was only for a medical to get my license so he wouldn’t off picked up on me being dislexic do any of ye think it could be dislexya. But anyways mainly any tips on how to improve on my Handwriting cause I got a partime job and will have to write receipts out on a book and worried about my writing cause it unreadable even to me sometimes. Thanks in advance

kirving

First of all, well done on the part time job. Don't let it distract you too much during leaving cert though. :-)

I'm no expert on dyslexia, but if you have any doubts you should see your GP just for an initial second opinion. If you are finding some things a little more difficult, or even just time consuming, you may be able to get extra time in exams too, to give you a fairer chance.

spurious

You need to get what is called a headline copy and practice. You would notice a huge difference in six weeks or so.

Your teachers should have already noticed it, but if not, ask your class teacher about help.

Wanderer78

it certainly sounds like you may be dyslexic, but this can only be truly confirmed via assessment, this is conducted by an educational psychologist. this can be done privately or publicly, id recommend privately as you will be assessed quicker but this isnt cheap at about 400 euro. there are basic assessments that can be conducted as preliminary assessments that may show signs of dyslexia, third level institutions generally do them, but im not sure if they are available at second level. it is advisable you talk to your teachers and parents for advisement. if you are dyslexic, dont panic, its common, and there are aids there to help you in your educational career. contacting dyslexia association of ireland might a good idea for advice.

http://www.dyslexia.ie/

best of luck

pinkbear

Sounds like dyspraxia. I know a kid like this, and his handwriting was really affecting exam grades. He got assessed for dyspraxia and got permission to do all his exams on a computer. His JC results shot up compared to 1st and 2nd year results.

Forget about practising if you have dyspraxia. It will make no difference and will just frustrate and upset you. The kid I know had low muscle tone in his arms, as part of the dyspraxia, and he had to do loads of arm exercises (push ups, pressing against a wall etc). The strengthened muscles improved his hand writing way more than practice did.

spurious

Dyspraxia affects a lot more than handwriting.

pinkbear

spurious wrote: »

Dyspraxia affects a lot more than handwriting.

You're right, it can. However bad handwriting is often the most obvious effect, and there is also a lot of overlap between dyspraxia and dyslexia. Some people have very mild other symptoms. The OP also mentioned problems going from one line to the next when reading; that can also be a symptom of dyspraxia.

I am a teacher, and have done a lot of work with special needs students, and I would say the majority of students I have seen with really chronic handwriting have dyspraxia.

spurious

It's disgusting it wasn't picked up earlier by the OP's school.

We do students no service letting them head into written exams with handwriting that cannot be read. As an examiner myself, I find it really frustrating. Every year there is at least one script in my bunk that has unrecognisable scrawls as letters.

pinkbear

I agree it's frustrating, and I remember how slow my hand writing was in school, so while I knew most things I couldn't usually get exams finished so my results were more based on speed than knowledge. In fairness to the OP's school.... it is kind of hard as a secondary teacher, with 200-300 students each year, to pick up on everything. Primary school teachers have a better chance.

Hopefully he/she will get something done. Assessments are expensive, but often worth it.

derb12

Hi there, I just came across this post now and I hope you've managed to get some help since you posted here. I'm not a special needs teacher but I've had plenty of students with diagnoses of dyslexia and dyspraxia over the years and some of what you say rings bells, especially not being able to go from the end of one line to the start of the next. Students I worked with got great help by changing to a different type of pen, making sure that writing paper was parallel to the edge of the table (they tended to set their paper crooked and tilt their head), using a ruler for reading line by line. writing on coloured paper (school gave them copies of notes on purplish coloured paper) and also, using tinted glasses.
There are lots of little things that can help a lot - even without spelling and grammar waivers etc.
But speaking of which, you need to talk to your parents and then your school special needs person and try to get some sort of expedited assessment. You may initially be told that you can't get any leaving cert supports if you weren't given junior cert supports but you should persist. Again, I'm no expert, but I am almost sure that you need to get a diagnosis while still a minor. You can obviously type ok and you're pretty articulate so you could do great in exams with support. Best of luck to you!

pmrc

My son is doing his leaving cert this year he is also dyslexic his writing is very bad. I got him a stalbilo easy handwriting . It has helped a little . A dyslexic assessment is 600 euro.