BellaOnline Forums Education Learning Disabilities Computers and Dyslexia

A reader wrote wondering if using the computer keyboard instead of hand writing was an aid with dyslexia.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

It has in some cases, and is worth a try. They could use a spell checker and perhaps learn from that and become more independent.

Welcome to the forum mrb - and thanks for your input!

I have had great experience with dyslexics using computers. However basic handwriting or printing is still a necessary skill. Many job applications are still filled out by hand. To improve handwriting/printing skills, I recommend coloring books and mazes for young children. The act of holding a crayon or pen in a fun activity book will improve fine motor skills.

Jeanne - what a great idea!

My son is almost 20 and was a preemie. He has a writing disability, dysgraphia, and learned to use the computer to express himself in ways that he could not, or would not, do with a pen or pencil. He was able to get by in school. although he wasn't challenged to his real ability because he didn't write as quickly as the other kids so he wasn't moved up as quickly as his skills progressed.

As an adult, he has attended college and is a cadet on the police department. He is excelling because he is bright but had to learn to do things differently than the rest of the students because he was not able to write as quickly or as much as the other students. Typing became MUCH easier for him to master than printing and cursive and didn't slow down his creative juices (his brain) or his thoughts.

I personally don't know how difficult, messy writing (dysgraphia) would compare with writing letters backwards (dyslexia). However, I would assume since both involve fine motor skills, it should be easier to teach the fingers to type than to perfect the skill of writing. It is much easier to remember finger positions through repetition, which would allow the thinking process to flow quite naturally. There are still times that printing and writing must be done, such as job applications, health reports, surveys, etc. but he does not seem to mind them so much since most everything else can be done on the ocmputer!

Once this was recognized and acknowledged by my son's teachers in high school. he began to excel and even started to write for fun: a sci-fi book! On the police department, he has to write many reports and narratives and feels very comfortable doing so, because he does them on a computer. I think the computer can be a great benefit for all children, especially those with disabilities. They might not, however, type exactly like Mavis Beacon teaches, but they sure can type fast!! LOL <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I just wanted to give ya'll a fast forward vision of the future to see that the frustrations of today pay off and things indeed work out. The teachers that work with our children have success and our children find happiness and we can find some peace. Occassionally. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Trish

Hi Trish,

What a beautiful testimonial! I, too, have a relative with dysgraphia who is now excelling in writing by using a computer.

BTW - I see you're from Maryland. I grew up in Severna Park on the Magothy River - see photo at left.

Hi Susan,

I was trying to figure out where the picture might have been taken but I can't seem to place it. Is the community still around? I live in an older community myself on Stoney Creek and it is amazing how much it has changed in the last 25 years. Every spare lot has a new house on it and some of the older houses have put new additions on and torn down the old parts. Our house is just about the same; still about 55 years old and growing! LOL

I'm glad to hear that your relative is also excelling using a computer. Is this relative also an adult? It was so frustrating when my son was growing up so I know how other parents feel as they go through it. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, so we just have to hang in there! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Trish

Hi Trish,

The house is the big house at the most northern plantation in Maryland almost 100 years ago - Fair Oaks on the Magothy.

The house and land were mostly sold off and the community of new homes by the same name was built.

I've written a meditation story that includes a photo of the Magothy where I grew up.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39229.asp

Susan

Hi, Susan,

I copied the address of your meditation story to read later. How cool!! You were practically on the other side of the street from me (a few years ago) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I know exactly where you are talking about and that community is REALLY nice! Did your family own that house and all that land? When did you move? How big was your family? That sure was a big house! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Trish

hi am 26 and dyslexic. I fine when i read i skip over trigger words (to the a ect.) I learned to read by picture word books (picture of house with the wor house) I learned the abc's with play dough and those magnetic abc's. I learned to spell in college when i discovered the joy of pre fix suffix and root word in A & P in school i could spell lunchbox but not it is the ect. i still have problems reading out loud and in school they thought i could not read at all because they never gave me anything to read but SEE JANE RUN and with all those trigger word and reading out loud. and phonics I never understood..
as far as the computer thing as long as i am watching my fingers i do fine except my spelling)but is i have to type something that is wrote down by hand or typed up for get it the words just dance and the more i try the worse it gets!!! I would be careful of kids learning the abc be cause the keyboard would confues them.
just a thought... printing is very hard for me because everytime i pick up a pen to start the next word i tind to make it backward or forget where i was and let letters words out you may find that your kids would do better at cursive.

Dear Freebubbles - thank you so much for sharing your own experiences with us.

Yes, I agree that cursive writing makes more sense, because you don't have to pick up the pen while writing a word!

i wished some one would have told my teacher that year ago!!

i am dyslexic an 16 and i never found that cursive writing has helped me computers have helped me a lot though

Hi Nanatmo, I'm glad computers have helped you. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Has anyone else been helped to write by using computers?

Hi out there. I wanted to introduce myself to everyone. I've been searching the web for info about dyslexia and found this board. I've never thought about joining a board before, but after reading through some posts, I'm happy I did. I just want to say thanks to everyone for the support you offer eachother here.

Now, playtowin123, happy to have you aboard!

Thanks everyone!

I was doing some research and I found this site called realhealth.tv which has a great video. Even though I am a new member, I think everyone here would really like watching this film b/c it was really nice hearing and watching someone talk about their difficulties and how they cope. I wanted to share this with everyone here, hoping It would help you guys too. Here�s the linkBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

I just played the video and it is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.

No problem!

I know this is an old post but would like to share some info. There is some good speech to text software available now, to help anyone with writing issues. My son never learned cursive. Even with printing, the letters don't always come automatically to him. Dragon Naturally Speaking 9 is wonderful, with little training required.

Also, he cannot listen and write at the same time. He is an auditory learner. But trying to remember how to write the letter, spell the word and listen is overload. He ends up with unreadable notes and missed much of the lecture. There is a carbon type paper another student can use to he has a good copy of notes. Or the teacher should supply them.

Another note - Making letters backwards is only a small part of Dyslexia. It really is more that they have a difficult time with the sounds that go with the letters and how they blend together.
j

Juliegee, thank you for sharing. I'd like to hear other readers input on help for dyslexia, also.

I would think that the Dragon speak software would be more of a cruch. you would not have to learn to read or write because the software does it for you. it would be ok for those of us that already read and write but for those that are learning...it would not help them. it would be more of a block to learning. not everything that you have to read or write is on the computer....

On the other hand, for people like me that get head aches from reading for a long time and cant spell worth a [censored] it would be a Godsend!!

Many people use "crutches" while they heal, others may use them for life. My son rarely finished a book he started until we began using books on tape. It took the frustration and distraction away so he could enjoy a book and learn to love reading rather than hating a chore. He now reads on his own for pleasure.

As long as someone has remediation to take them as far as they can go, why deny them tools to allow them success? Or allow them to see what success feels like while they are learning?

Screen readers can allow someone success and some independence while remediation is taking place. It should never be used in place of that.

Dyslexia never goes away, just like many other disabilities. You would never consider denying someone a wheelchair because physical therapy to help them walk is ongoing.

Juliegee, well-made points! Are you a teacher?

Just a parent who has literally fought the school district to help my son. Wished I'd learned my child's rights many years ago to avoid major failure and depression later.

He now reads wonderfully thanks to private remediation. Writing is another issue.

Advocacy and rights have become a passion. Schools can't and/or won't know all. It ultimately falls on the parents to push, pull and kick their way to successful programs for their children. All while maintaining some semblance of "team" with teachers and admin. Tough balancing act. Mama Bear sometimes rears her ugly head :-)

j

Oh I understand were you are comming from completely and I didnt mean that people should not use it at all I just ment that it can become a handicap to learning if used wrong. But if you have teachers who know how to teach then it is a great advantage!
but more often then not the teachers would see this as a easy way out the child can learn to use the computer program and they pass the classes so they dont have to really teach the child to read or write. In college I had books on type and they were so great because I didnt have the migranes and the frusturation that came with reading. but I CAN read if I need too.

I would hate for a child to become use to the software that will read and write for them and they never learn to write things for themselvies or to read on there own....

lets say you have a 2nd grades that starts useing this software and she still has a problem reconizing letters and she cant write them. If the teacher is ok with her useing the software for everything she does she can probly go through highschool and not learn her letters or write very well. this is a disservice to the child!
but if you take a child in 6th grade and they can write and read words but it is very difficult and frustrating for them then by all means use the software!! by this time the child has learn to cope with dyslexia and can function in the world.

if you go all the way through school and cant cope with your disablity then just the simple act of cooking, paying bills, reading maps and road signs becomes a great big challange for this child.

Does that explain better?