My son, 9, has had writing problems in school every grade. He is also on 10 mg of Ritalin LA, starting this fall that seems to be helping significantly.

We just got his first quarter report card, and it was the best he's ever received for the first quarter of a school year -- except he got the lowest grades possible for writing; quantity, quality, and legibility. He also got a poor grade in spelling.

We've tried tutors, workbooks, software, etc. He has an IEP that gives him more time to write and can use a dictionary. Yet and still, he produces very little and its hard to read.

However, he can make up great lyrics for songs, poems, and stories, but has a very difficult time writing it down on paper.

I wonder about getting him software where he can talk into the computer and the software will enter the text into a word processing program but since he can't do that at school, I'm not sure that will help his problem.

Do any other parents of ADHD boys have this problem and have you found any effective solutions to help them write more, better, and easier?

Thanks,
Jerie

Our school districts O/T can provide a word processor if the student qualifies.

We have computers in every classroom and at home so my son has it in his IEP that all papers can be typed.

As a teacher, I have seen IEPs which require that students be given access to a computer for writing. I allow some students to go to their special ed room to work on a computer when needed. As an adult with ADD, I can remember the reall and profound impact that the introduction ofthe PC had on my ability to write. I remember the terror of facing a blank page in the typewriter, and need to cut and paste - literally - papers to form a coherent whole. With personal computers writing has become a joy. Well, perhaps not a joy :) but something which I enjoy doing - it's still work. It still requires revision. But that too, is part of the process of learning how to write.

Which brings me to my second point - I'm pretty ambivalent about "speech-to-word" software. I understand the challenges your son has, but I do think that it's important that he master the basic mechanics of writing. He won't have access to such software in most everyday situations. Writing requires hard work - even under the best of circumstances. Yet, there is something about the printed word - reading it, thinking about it, manipulating it into final form - that is irreplaceable. I believe it is a skill that will serve hime well in writing as well as in math (don't get me started on kids reliance on calculators!)

Good luck - be a powerful advocate for your son - if he needs to use a computer to manipulate his words, makje sure that he has access to one. I can only tell you that as an adult who has really "been there" - there really is hope!

The dysgraphia you describe is *VERY* common with ADHD children, especially boys. The obvious solution is to teach them keyboarding, but my DS is no better at that than at hand-writing. If yours is successful with it, the school can provide a keyboard for him to use at school. If you find any software that is good at voice transcription, I'd sure like to know about it!

Your son's IEP needs to allow not only for my time to write, but less writing. Assignments can be shortened, tests can be multiple-choice rather than essay, and he should be allowed to dictate answers. No, he can't get out of all writing, but he shouldn't have to do so much of something he is not capable of. At home, I'll occassionally either type or handwrite my son's answers for him and attach a note saying the answers are his, not mine. This has been pre-arranged with teachers.

Hope this helps!