When you compare children with dysgraphia to dyslexic children, the children with writing problems have relative isolated reading problems. They do experience problems with spelling however, but their biggest problem is with written work. When the homework finally reaches completion, the quality is very poor.

• The child with Dysgraphia experiences the following problems:
  
• The pen or pencil grip is quite awkward and uncomfortable
• Unable to write without lines
• Spacing is poor
• Letters are written the wrong way round or upside down
• Writes above or under the lines
• Is extremely slow
• Erases frequently
• Repetition of letters
• Capital letters and punctuation are non-existent
• Writing is too big or too small
• Random Letters are written
  

The teacher might feel that the child understands a certain subject quite well, but thinks the poor performance might be due to structural or motivational deficiencies. The child takes so long before he/she starts a project eventually, and also loses parts of the completed task. He/she becomes quite disorderly in the class and loses interest in subjects in which he did well previously.

Consequently, the child may develop "attitude" problems and may be branded as lazy and unmotivated, but alternatively, may be quite neat and organised with his/her belongings. This child is in a so-called "zone" between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and other learning disabilities. The problems sometimes get recognised later in school (Grade 5) only, which might explain why an intelligent pupil starts to fail. Scientists allege that this type of learning problem is neurologically based because of a retarded development of myelin (a fatty layer that surrounds certain nerve fibres), but they differ in their opinions regarding the exact location in the brain.