Grip It & Write

Oftentimes individuals with developmental disabilities have fine or gross motor delays. Therefore, writing can be a laborious task as gripping a pencil and writing legibly may be difficult. To combat this challenge an occupational therapist may offer an individual a diverse series of pencil grips depending on their needs and specific disability. Examples of some disabilities that may benefit from using a pencil grip include but are not limited to, dysgraphia, hypermobility, hypotonia, arthritis, and autism. However, not all with fine motor difficulties may choose to use or enjoy using pencil grips

Every individual has their own preference on which grip works best for them. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and materials. Usually they are inexpensive with a price tag not exceeding $3 dollars. Some of the pencil grips include but are not limited to the…

·     Claw- Allows the user to put their fingers in a tripod grasp by placing fingers in the cups.

·     Pinch Grip- Provides comfort and support. Helps the writer put their fingers in the proper aliment simply making use of the indents on the grip.

·     Stetro- Has three contours to place fingers in an efficient position. It has little support. Many people use it incorrectly.

·     Grotto- A ridged grip that prevents displacement of fingers. This can be uncomfortable to some people.

·     Crossover- Has wings that stop an individual from crossing their thumb & index finger when writing Soft and rubbery to the touch.

·     Twist N’ Write- Y shaped lead pencil that teaches children proper finger placement. To write the child must put their index finger, and then their thumb and middle finger through the sides.

·     Monkey- Stabilizes the thumb and index finger on the sides of the pencil while the rest of the fingers hold the monkey’s tail.

·     Handi Writer- Supports wrist while writing.

·     Egg grip- Can be used for individuals with arthritis as it allows them to use a more cylindrical grasp. 

Occupational therapist often see their clients misplace their fingers on a pencil or just press too hard. In this predicament, they have the option to use a pen or mechanical pencil. A mechanical pencil trains the individual to not press so hard because the tip will break. On the other hand, a pen provides fluidity for letter/word formation. Unlike a regular pencil, a pen does not offer resistance, therefore requiring less control and pressure. Whereas this may be helpful for some, others may require a pencil which provides them with more feedback.

Prior to writing this blog I intentionally chose to use the pencil grips for research purposes. However, I found them to be quite uncomfortable to use. That being said, with years of experience I know how to use a pencil without a grip adequately. Though I can see how they would facilitate individuals with daily writing tasks.

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