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Teen Is Unable to Write

Posted on Friday, October 24, 2008

Question: I am searching for strategies for an OCD diagnosed teenager that has issues with writing. Due to tracing and pattern writing, the teen cannot complete school assignments. Is there a strategy that has been successful? Please help. This highly intelligent teen cannot put pen to paper.

Texas

Answer: The symptoms you describe are common among school-aged children with OCD.  Unfortunately, intelligence and willpower alone are not enough to overcome these tedious rituals and many bright teenagers find themselves in this frustrating spot--knowing the answers but unable to complete the assignment.  If your child is not already in the care of a therapist specializing in cognitive behavior therapy, you should look for a clinician in your area.  Through cognitive therapy and exposure and response prevention, a qualified therapist can help your teen develop strategies for dealing with OCD and develop a plan for using these techniques in the classroom.

For more information, check out http://www.ocdeducationstation.org to find materials and resources specifically geared toward school-age children.  There you can learn more about strategies for managing OCD symptoms in the classroom as well as how to advocate on your child’s behalf with the school system.  Many of the materials found there can be shared with your teen’s teachers to facilitate understanding of OCD and the mutual goal of improving your child’s educational experience. 

Answer from Ireland: I’m not suggesting this is the answer, but it could be a work around. Why not let them do the homework on a PC/laptop; that way they get the work done while trying to solve the problem.

Answer from Illinois: Maybe the student could use voice recognition software to complete written assignments. See SpeakQ software program at http://www.wordq.com.