Handwriting and ADHD? | ADHD Information

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I'm jealous of all of you, my son still has the most awful printing ever, the only way it comes out neat if he really concentrates, but then this can take up to 3 hours to get a paper done.

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When I said there was a noticable difference, I did not mean to imply neat and legible.  Without meds,  the papers  turn out torn from writing too hard and trying to hold the paper, long scratches of pen across the page, up to about six lines of printing per sheet of paper,  large irregular, w/o attention to lines or anything.  He's 17.5.  without meds he usually chooses not to write.  Fortunately he uses a word processor at school for notes /writing etc.
jfla238783.8842476852My daughter was diagnosed by her pediatrician with ADHD and has been on Concerta for about a month and a half.  She is doing very well on the med. 

She had the most sloppy handwriting before.  Always reversing numbers & letters and running words together, just really horrible.  I look at what she has written lately and wow, what a difference.  You can actually read what she wrote.

I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a handwriting issue that was resolved with meds?
My son was the same way.  His handwriting now on meds is so much better.  He is 8.That really surprised me, I am glad we're not the only ones! 

I heard a leading neuropsychologist in our large metropolitan area recently speak about ADHD.  He said that taking stimulants can absolutely improve handwriting.  We sure noticed the difference in my 12-year-old son's handwriting as well.

 

I noticed a big difference too.  As a matter of fact, I used to have him do handwriting samples when we were trying different meds and doses as one of the indicators of effectiveness.  
It still alerts me if I happen to see messy papers after school as to whether or not he remembered to take his meds.  I thought I was the only one that the meds didn't change their child's handwriting.  My son who is now 13 sometimes can't even read his own printing.  He sltants upright, squishes when he gets to the end of the paper, doesn't stay on the lines using lined paper, and some of his letters are capitals where they should be small and some letters that should go below the line are above the line.  I don't think it will ever improve. 

I'm jealous of all of you, my son still has the most awful printing ever, the only way it comes out neat if he really concentrates, but then this can take up to 3 hours to get a paper done.

My sons writing is better on meds.  Its still a mess though, and at 15, he still prefers to print??  He has been to an O.T. when in Gr. 6, and she found that he is quite capable of writing/printing very well.  Must be he can't slow it down, or doesn't care.  He gets extra space for math tests because his numbers are so big.  Glad that you see a difference.We went to an OT to help us with this and my goodness what a difference...he is doing so much better and writing is not as much of a big deal as it once was...he is also taking meds which helps too

In a jovial and empathetic tone I reply...

I have horrible handwriting and despite good grades through out school (until I got to college and had to really study) handwriting was always my worst grade..... I tried to live the lie of saying......well, it isn't the most important thing....I just have more important things to think about ..... (sound familiar)

All the while I was always secretly jealous of those peers who had really pretty and girly handwriting....... 

It wasn't a real problem until now when I don't have a keyboard to take notes in a meeting..... I can't read my OWN handwriting!