Hypoxia and Medicine

Is there a medical condition that causes bad handwriting?

I don't know what to do about my handwriting. I have tried all my life to have neat handwriting but it always looks like a 10 year old. I don't think I'm stupid but it makes me look like an idiot. The letters are readable but when I have to take exams for my law course, I'm not sure if they will see my writing and assume I'm an idiot from the way it looks so give me low marks? Is there some kind of medical condition that causes people to have handwriting that makes them look stupid? All my friends at my school had nice handwriting and I used to try all the time to practise but nothing worked and I don't know if there's a reason for it? I need to know. Maybe I'm demented but don't realise or something? It has been alright so far as all my law assignments have been typed, but the last one has to be hand written. Would my doctor think I'm wasting his time if I go because my handwriting is bad?

Public Comments

1. if there is, I have it too. My handwriting is so poor that I've been teased about it all my life.
2. i would say practice . . . i remember in 2nd grade practicing how to space/write letters. it may be what you need to get better
3. Actually after years of investigating there is a medical condition that causes bad handwriting. It's called dumb. Currently theres no real cure out for it, but they are working on one so look for it in the near future. Ah thank you.
4. The only one I know about is Asperger's disorder, but i would imagine it holds true for all autism spectrum disorder. But bad handwriting alone does not mean you have it. My handwriting is terrible as well. I just -can't- write neat unless I write really, really slowly, and even then it's not so great. And that's useless for a test.
5. I see no reason in your paragraph to judge that you're anything but very intelligent and insightful. It may be a matter of eye-hand coordination. This would involve a specialty of medicine that your G.P. could likely connect you up with. I can see your concern and it would probably be wise to check it out.
6. A teacher once told me that my handwriting looks as if a spider has stepped in the ink and walked across the page. I can honestly say that my writing is still quite awful. I am neither stupid or demented and likewise I am sure neither are you. Good luck with your exams.
7. There are a few. Carpel Tunnel, Dyslexia, and some neurological disorders can make your handwriting sloppy. Some times people have problems with the tendons in their hands and do not even know it. They may not have any pain, but their hands may not be functioning correctly. It is normal to them because that is the way their hand has always worked. It is just not the way a hand is supposed to work. I do not think you are demented. You should get tested to see what is going on. If you do have Dyslexia, your teacher will have to work with you on the handwriting and the low grades can probably be changed. There are many forms of Dyslexia too. So do not cross that one off just because you can read well.
8. No i have it to if there is, i can't do proper joined up writing to save my life, and i think it's lost me many an interview in the past. I have done everything, sat and wrote slowly, considered, and nothing, it comes out like a drunken spider walked over the page, so sorry for you but no help here.
9. I haven't read all the answers here as some were rude or mis-informed. You are studying at degree level I take it so I can assure you that your school is where you should start. For those who are or who are not dislexic, and there are many varying degrees, there are special ways of being tutored in this regard. Practicing on your own won't help, especially, and mat re-inforce bad habits. (Although I know of no such thing). Ask! Start with your course leader and make sure they understand how much it means to you as they may suggest practice or that it's not so important. You can be worrying the handwriting when taking tests as this will lose you marks. Lots of professionals have terrible writing. They learn it at Uni!
10. mines bad too. if it's an assignment like to take home just take your time. practice.
11. i dont know what it is but i had it for years.
12. Writus crapicus has got to be responsible for this. Sorry for being sarcastic. They say the most intelligent people have bad handwriting and males more so than females. Practice makes perfect so go back to the drawing board and learn how to form your letters properly. Good luck!
13. First no your doctor would not think that but might not have an answer. I think most times it is to do with eye hand coordination how good are you at catching a ball or throwing something. Also if your eyesight is not 100% that can cause you to have bad handwrighting. Another cause can be if when you were young and learning to write you had problems with spelling as you subconciusly hide peer spelling with bad hand writing and although your spelling improves it is hard to get your handwriting to improve. I think that was my case. One last thing that does not help is thinking quicker then you can write as your hand is trying to catch up all the time.
14. I am afraid their is a huge tendency both in the UK and the USA to medicalise all problems. A good example is your question, another was a Scottish News item today suggesting that nearly 40,000 Scots children have ADD, characterised by them being fidgety and having poor concentration. The problem here is not that ADD does not exist, it certainly does, but where do you draw the line below which everything else is in fact within the normal range. It of course depends on your definition of normal!
15. I very much doubt so. Just as there is no medical condition that causes my total inability to draw even the simplest of pictures. My daughter is dyslexic but very artisitic. I am not dyslexic but cannot draw a dot and get it in proportion.
16. I know someone with Cerebal Palsy and she keeps apologizing for her "bad" handwriting. However, it's very legible (easy to read) and that is the important thing. If other people can read your handwriting, that is the only thing you need to worry about. You kind of sound like a perfectionist from my point of view. Best of wishes to you.
17. yeah theres a condition called dysgraphia....im bout 100% sure dats what you might have.