Acquired Dysgraphia

​

We use our writing skills in so many different ways on a daily basis: to-do lists, shopping lists, emails, text messages, birthday cards, social media – the list could go on and on! Acquired dysgraphia is a writing impairment that results from a traumatic brain injury or a stroke. It can have an extremely negative impact on a person’s ability to communicate with others. The impact is even more profound if the person's speech is impaired too, as is often the case with aphasia.

​

By using evidence-based writing techniques, speech therapy can help people with acquired dysgraphia improve their writing/spelling and communication abilities.  This can help to increase the chances of a successful return to work, improve cognitive and linguistic processes, and enhance quality of life for people with writing impairments.

​

Writing Therapy Groups for Aphasia

​

At the Aptus Speech Clinic, we run Writing Groups for Aphasia in Dundrum, Dublin 14 and in Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Groups normally have 3 to 4 people. Our writing groups make speech therapy much more accessible and affordable for people with aphasia following stroke or brain injury. 

​

Group sessions typically last 1 - 1.5 hours. 

​

​

Baseline of writing skills of each group member

​

We carry out a full assessment of writing. This typically looks at spontaneous writing, writing names of pictures, writing words to dictation, writing picture descriptions and copying written statements.  We re-examine after a block of group therapy to track progress. 

 

​

Goal-setting 

​

Every group member comes to writing group for a reason. We find out what they would like to achieve and we target their goals with relevant writing exercises. Some examples of group members' goals include:

• learning to write the names of family members

• writing birthday and wedding cards

• writing numbers

• sentence generation and correct word order 

• email writing

• text message writing

• using assistive technology to make writing easier

​

​​

Homework 

​

We provide group members with 1-2 writing tasks per week so that they continue to practise their writing skills in between sessions. Feedback is always provided on homework. 

​

​

Get in touch

​

If you or a loved one are interested in joining one of our writing groups, please get in touch by calling us, filling in the contact form below or by emailing info@aptusclinic.com. 

​