Learning Disabilities in Written Expression

Difficulty Using Writing in School and Everyday Situations

Close-up of boy (12-13) doing homework at desk

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A learning disability in expressive writing affects a person's ability to write and organize thoughts on paper using appropriate detail, sequence, sentence structure, and literary form. 

People with learning disabilities in expressive writing skills often experience great difficulty completing schoolwork involving writing and using writing in everyday situations. They may not struggle with producing letters on paper, but they can't seem to effectively use words to express organized and complete thoughts in writing. They may also have difficulty with word usage.

Causes

Learning disabilities in expressive writing skills may involve difficulty with expressive language and visual and auditory processing, as well as issues with the automaticity and motor coordination regions of the brain. These disabilities are believed to be hereditary or caused by developmental problems. They are not solely the result of problems with expressive or receptive language, visual, or hearing problems, fine motor muscle coordination, or learning disabilities in basic writing skills, but they can be complicated by these conditions.

Some students with learning disabilities may be able to generate content, create or organize the structure of their writing, and plan for how to write a composition; but they have difficulty revising the text or may have problems with the mechanical and physical aspects of writing.

Testing and Diagnosis

Diagnostic writing tests can be used to determine the types of problems affecting the learner's writing. Through observations, analyzing student work, cognitive assessment, and possibly language assessment, educators can help the IEP team develop an appropriate individualized education program.

Instruction for People With Expressive Writing Disabilities

Evaluation can provide information to help educators develop effective strategies. Typical strategies focus on developing pre-writing strategies to organize thoughts, using graphic organizers, mediated writing, and the use of writing models. By spending time planning before they write, students can use these products as external memory they can call upon when composing, which helps to free up working memory.

Teachers or speech-language pathologists may also work on language-based aspects of writing to help learners build comprehension and spoken expression.

Myths

People with learning disabilities in expressive writing are often at least as intelligent as their peers. They may appear lazy but are just overwhelmed by writing tasks. They are often self-conscious about their disability and avoid writing. Uninformed teachers, students, and other adults may see them as less capable when they are actually very capable and bright.

Learning disabled students can be high achievers with the right specially-designed instruction and accommodations. Some students understand much more than they are capable of expressing on paper, while others have receptive language disorders as well.

What to Do

If you believe you or your child has a learning disability in basic writing, contact your school principal or counselor for information on how to request an IEP team meeting to discuss a referral for assessment. For students in college and vocational programs, their school's advising office can assist with finding resources to improve their chances of success.

5 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Fenwick ME, Kubas HA, Witzke JW, et al. Neuropsychological Profiles of Written Expression Learning Disabilities Determined by Concordance-Discordance Model Criteria. Appl Neuropsychol Child. 2016;5(2):83-96. doi:10.1080/21622965.2014.993396

  2. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.

  3. Chung PJ, Patel DR, Nizami I. Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: definition, diagnosis, and management. Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S46-S54. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.11.01

  4. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Signs and Symptoms of Written Language Disorders.

  5. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Written Language Disorders.

By Ann Logsdon
Ann Logsdon is a school psychologist specializing in helping parents and teachers support students with a range of educational and developmental disabilities.