Difficulty Writing

About the Symptom

Difficulty writing (also known as agraphia) describes a person's inability to write language. This can be caused by a stroke, brain tumor, traumatic brain injury, an autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis, or less commonly a psychiatric condition.

When to See a Doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

• Difficulty writing out words

Possible Causes

Generally, Difficulty writing can be related to:

• Alzheimer's Disease

  Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The brain shrinks, affecting memory and behavior. Symptoms worsen over time and can interfere with daily life. Increasing age raises the risk for Alzheimer dementia.

• Olivopontocerebellar Atrophy

  Olive bridge cerebellar atrophy, also known as Olivopontocerebellar atrophy, is the degeneration of neurons in specific areas of the brain like the cerebellum, pons, and inferior olivary nucleus. It is a hereditary condition.

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

  Also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, or motor neuron disease, this progressive, degenerative condition affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It results in loss of muscle control, eventually leading to difficulty eating, breathing, and speaking. The exact cause remains unknown and may be due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.

• Parkinson's Disease
• Tuberous Sclerosis
• Progressive Subcortical Vascular Encephalopathy
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Related Serious Diseases

Sometimes, Difficulty writing may be related to these serious diseases:

• Cerebral Infarction

  Cerebral infarction refers to damage to brain tissue resulting from a stroke. It occurs due to decreased blood supply and oxygen delivery to the brain, causing brain cell death and brain damage. It is typically caused by a blood clot or fatty/cholesterol plaques blocking a blood vessel to the brain, but can also occur if a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.

• Hepatic Encephalopathy

Doctor's Diagnostic Questions

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:

• Have you been experiencing difficulties with writing?
• When did you first begin experiencing writing difficulties?

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