Quiz: What is the origin of your child's HANDWRITING issues?

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Select a pencil grasp posture that your child most closely demonstrates most of the time:

  • A.
    Image Source

    Three fingers touching the pencil
  • B.
    Image Source

    Four fingers touching the pencil
  • C.
    Image Source

    Side of thumb pressed on pencil.  Three fingers touching pencil.
  • D.
    Image Source

    Side of thumb pressed on pencil. Four fingers touching pencil.
  • E.
    Image Source

    Thumb and/or index finger wrapped around pencil.
  • F.
    Image Source

    Thumb tucked under fingers
  • G.
    Image Source

    Index finger hooked around top portion of pencil, with pencil guided by pinky finger.
  • H.
    Image Source

    Fisted grasp with pencil held in palm of hand, pinky side down.
  • I.
    Image Source

    Forearm and palm facing mostly upward.
  • J.
    Image Source

    Pencil is held threaded between fingers.
  • K.
    Image Source

    Fisted grasp with pencil held in palm of hand, thumb side down.
  • L.
    Image Source

    Pencil held with index finger and/or middle finger guiding pencil.
  • M.
    Image Source

    Three fingers touching pencil with pencil held between index and middle finger.
• 2.
  What is your child's wrist posture while writing?

  • A.
    Image Source

    Straight or slightly extended wrist
  • B.
    Image Source

    Wrist is bent or abnormally flexed
• 3.
  Does your child put too much pressure on a pencil when writing?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes, too much pressure
  • B.
    Breaks pencil tips often
  • C.
    Tears through paper often
  • D.
    Complains of hand or finger pain when writing
  • E.
    All of the above
  • F.
    None of the above
• 4.
  Does your child put too little pressure on the pencil?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes, the writing is very light on the paper.
  • B.
    No, the writing pressure isn't too light.
• 5.
  Does your child write letters and/or numbers upside down, backwards, or from bottom-to-top?

  • A.
    Yes, upside down
  • B.
    Yes, backwards 
  • C.
    Yes, from bottom to top
  • D.
    All of the above
  • E.
    No
• 6.
  For children in grades 1-12: Does your child show persistent errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, or organizing thoughts on paper?

  • A.
    Yes, spelling errors
  • B.
    Yes, punctuation errors
  • C.
    Yes, grammar errors
  • D.
    Yes, my child struggles with organizing thoughts and ideas on paper
  • E.
    All of the above
  • F.
    No, my child does not show these types of writing errors
• 7.
  Does your child switch the pencil or crayon from one hand to the other hand when writing or drawing? 

  • A.
    Yes, consistently
  • B.
    Yes, often
  • C.
    Yes, sometimes
  • D.
    No
• 8.
  Does your child get frustrated, angry, cry, or refuse to complete writing assignments?

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes, always
  • B.
    Yes, often
  • C.
    Yes, sometimes
  • D.
    No, never
• 9.
  Is your child Right brain or Left brain dominant? Here's a quick and easy way to find out by looking at how your child folds their hands together.  

  • A.
    Image Source

    Right thumb crossed over Left thumb = LEFT brain dominance
  • B.
    Image Source

    Left thumb crossed over Right thumb = RIGHT brain dominance

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Your child may have one or more retained primitive reflexes.

  Primitive Motor Reflexes are automatic, involuntary, stereotyped responses to particular stimuli. These motor pattern reflexes develop in utero and throughout infancy, and serve protective and functional purposes. In normal development, these reflexes become integrated by age 3 and are replaced by more mature responses and behaviors. Sometimes, these primitive reflexes continue to be active beyond the typical age of integration, and as a result can interfere with learning and motor skills development. Retained primitive reflexes are responsible for many handwriting challenges. If you suspect that your child may have retained primitive reflexes, please consult with an occupational therapist who is trained in reflex integration. I am the owner and occupational therapist at A+ Handwriting, where the underlying causes of handwriting issues (including retained primitive reflexes) can be discovered and addressed in a private one-on-one setting, whether in person at my office, or via a HIPAA approved teletherapy portal. Contact me for an OT Evaluation by clicking on the button below, and together we will figure out the best therapeutic interventions to improve your child's handwriting and function. In-person and teletherapy options are available.~ Marla Scaglione, MS, OTR/LOccupational Therapist and OwnerA+ HandwritingLutz, FL
• 2.
  Your child demonstrates a functional pencil grasp.

  Image Source

  Marla Scaglione, MS, OTR/LOccupational Therapist and OwnerA+ HandwritingLutz, FL
• 3.
  Your child demonstrates a functional pencil grasp. 

  Image Source

  Although this is considered a functional pencil grasp posture, if the written output is illegible, it may indicate one or more retained primitive reflexes or a diagnosis of Dysgraphia. Primitive Motor Reflexes are automatic, involuntary, stereotyped responses to particular stimuli. These motor pattern reflexes develop in utero and throughout infancy, and serve protective and functional purposes. In normal development, these reflexes become integrated by age 3 and are replaced by more mature responses and behaviors. Sometimes, these primitive reflexes continue to be active beyond the typical age of integration, and as a result can interfere with learning and motor skills development. Retained primitive reflexes are responsible for many handwriting challenges.Dysgraphia is an neurological disorder that manifests as difficulty in written expression, including illegible handwriting, reversed letters/numbers, persistent spelling, grammar, or punctuation accuracy, and challenges with written expression of ideas. If you suspect that your child may have retained primitive reflexes or Dysgraphia, please consult with an occupational therapist who is trained in reflex integration and handwriting issues. I am the owner and occupational therapist at A+ Handwriting, where the underlying causes of handwriting issues (including retained primitive reflexes) can be discovered and addressed in a private one-on-one setting, whether in person at my office, or via a HIPAA approved teletherapy portal. Contact me for an OT Evaluation by clicking on the button below, and together we will figure out the best therapeutic interventions to improve your child's handwriting and function. In-person and teletherapy options are available.~ Marla Scaglione, MS, OTR/LOccupational Therapist and OwnerA+ HandwritingLutz, FL
• 4.
  Your child demonstrates good wrist posture for handwriting tasks.

  Image Source
• 5.
  Your child shows atypical proprioceptive sensory function and would benefit from an Occupational Therapy Evaluation for possible Sensory Processing Disorder.

  Image Source

  Pyramid of Learning shows 7 Sensory Systems that have an impact on higher level cognitive, behavioral, and functional abilities.
• 6.
  Your child shows atypical proprioceptive sensory function, may have low muscle tone, and would benefit from an Occupational Therapy Assessment.   

  Image Source

  Pyramid of Learning shows 7 Sensory Systems that have an impact on higher level cognitive, behavioral, and functional abilities.
• 7.
  Your child demonstrates weakness in visual-spatial processing and is likely to have Dysgraphia.

  Image Source

  Letter and number reversals and sequencing errors that persist despite verbal and visual assistance indicates weak visual-spatial processing. This may be part of a global Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or purely Dysgraphia. Referral to a knowledgeable Occupational Therapist is important in order to correct the underlying issues.
• 8.
  Your child's writing struggles may be a symptom of Dysgraphia.

  Image Source

  This may be part of a global Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or purely Dysgraphia. Referral to a knowledgeable Occupational Therapist is important in order to correct the underlying issues.
• 9.
  Your child may show delays in reading, writing, and use of both hands for daily activities.  If prolonged, it may indicate a diagnosis of Dyspraxia.

  Image Source

  Why is this important? Choosing a dominant hand and crossing midline is important in the timely development of fine and gross motor skills, which can impair reading, writing, and daily activities.
• 10.
  Your child's writing struggles may be a symptom of Dysgraphia and/or issues with sensory processing of Emotions.

  Image Source

  This may be part of a global Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or purely Dysgraphia. Referral to a knowledgeable Occupational Therapist is important in order to correct the underlying issues.If your child has chronic anxiety, they can benefit from stress reduction strategies and interventions. One such intervention for anxiety and other factors such as auditory processing that we provide at A+ Handwriting is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). Here's a link to find out more information on the SSP - https://integratedlistening.com/ssp-safe-sound-protocol/
• 11.
  Brain dominance?  

  Image Source

  Brain dominance does not mean that a person only uses one side of their brain. Brain dominance indicates which brain hemisphere is the most easily accessed for cognitive skills, learning style, and interests. Brain dominance also tells us how a person will perform under stressful conditions or anxiety, during which time our non-dominant hemisphere becomes inaccessible. When a child experiences anxiety, their dominant hemisphere takes control of thoughts and behavior, which can mean different things for different brains. There are many resources on the internet describing features of L or R brain laterality and what happens under stressful conditions. The goal of therapy (and life) is to be "whole brained" and be able to access various functions volitionally under the direction of a calm nervous system.