Acquired dysgraphia

Agraphia is an impairment or loss in the ability to write in individuals (most often adults) who had typical spelling and/or handwriting prior to brain damage, either sudden or progressive. Agraphia occurs as a result of damage to the cognitive, linguistic, and/or sensorimotor areas of the brain that support spelling and writing (Beeson & Rapczak, 2004). Lesions in specific regions in these areas affect the ability to retrieve words and/or their spellings and/or to form the letters to write the words.

Agraphia may be broadly categorized into two types: central or peripheral. Central agraphia affects an individual’s ability to spell, while peripheral agraphia is characterized by handwriting difficulties (Beeson & Rapczak, 2004). Additionally, visual perceptual changes that impair handwriting are not uncommon in those with brain injury.

Although the characteristics of agraphia are similar to those of developmental dysgraphia, the defining feature...