Bene ts of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Several reports from parents, teachers, and therapists of children with autism have noted they have minor

di culties with handwriting skills. Some children on the spectrum are not able to write as well as their
neurotypical peers. It is for this reason that weighted pencils were introduced and became popular among

parents and occupational therapists.

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

When children with autism struggle with handwriting, it can a ect their academic performance simply

because they can not write legibly. Because it’s a physical limitation, it can be tricky to address. Kids who

continue to make writing mistakes might become frustrated, which can result in a dislike for writing tasks.

In a study led by Dr. Amy J. Bastian of Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, the researchers devised
and implemented a test that identi ed ve aspects of handwriting: legibility, form, alignment, size, and

spacing. The subjects took the Minnesota Handwriting assessment where they had to write, “The brown

jumped lazy fox quick dogs over.” The purpose of scrambled words is to eliminate any speed advantages of
uent readers. The study concluded kids with ASD do have handwriting impairments as compared to

other subjects.

In an interview with WebMD, Dr. Bastian acknowledged the helpful role of assistive devices for

improving handwriting among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She says, “We can teach
kids to change their grip on the pen, give fatter or weighted pencils—or maybe motor practice can be

e ective.” She added parents ought to connect with school administration because some kids may qualify

for physical or occupational therapy. This could be bene cial because it can be challenging to listen to and

understand the teacher while also having to focus so hard on writing.

In a recent study published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention,

weighted pencils have been proven e ective in improving handwriting skills in children on the spectrum.

The study is of three children with special needs who used weighted pencils. The study concluded all
three children displayed great improvement in their handwriting skills.

In her book Understanding Motor Skills in Children With Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autism, and Other

Learning Disabilities, Lisa A. Kurtz mentioned using weighted pencils for students with tremors.

What are weighted pencils?

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

A weighted pencil is heavier than a regular pencil and is designed to provide proprioceptive input in a

child’s ngers and hands so he/she can respond accordingly. It is also an excellent way to increase pencil

pressure without any e ort from the child.

Proprioception, also called kinesthetics, is a person’s ability to be aware of his/her body movements and
how he/she is moving in a given space. Some examples of proprioception include balancing on one leg,

throwing a ball without looking at the throwing arm, or sensing when objects or people are near without

seeing.

In handwriting, proprioception means the ability to be aware of and control the position of the hand in
relation to the writing instrument. Children with autism often lack this skill, which is often the cause of

poor handwriting. A child might have a disorder called dyspraxia, which a ects physical coordination that

causes him/her to have di culty with gross and ne motor skills.

How do weighted pencils work?

The added weight of the pencil is meant to help a child with autism respond to the stimuli of the

instrument and the paper and “react” su ciently. Because the pen is heavier, its presence is more obvious
to the child as he/she holds and moves it around.

The weight can be part of the pencil itself, or it can be a removable accessory that is attached to a regular

pencil.

What are the other types of weighted pencils?

Weighted pencils are available from online autism resource stores. Some of them come with a pencil grip,

while others are accessories that can be attached or wrapped around a regular pencil.

Here are some examples of weighted pencils or pencil accessories to add weight to pencils:

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Weighted universal holders

These are pencil holders made of plastic vinyl that t over most pens and pencils.  said to help strengthen

ngers, arms, and shoulders and are also used for other objects such as a toothbrush or markers.

Pencil weight
Pencil weights are cloth strips or rubber tubes that are attached to pens, pencils, and markers. Unlike
pencil holders, it does not have a xed diameter so it can wrap around any size of writing device. Pencil

weights transform any writing instrument into a weighted pencil or pen.

Weighted pencil with grip

Some weighted pencils come with a pencil grip already attached. This particular weighted pencil from

National Autism Resources is a mechanical weighted pencil with a rubber grip. The tip is a 2mm-thick

lead which does not break easily.

Weighted pencils come in all shapes and sizes. Experiment with a few to nd the best-weighted pencil

option for your child.

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

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Why use weighted pencils?

Weighted pencils have received positive feedback from parents. If your child nds it challenging to follow

spacing and form letters correctly, then there’s no harm in trying a weighted pencil.

Here are some reasons why children with autism use weighted pencils:

 The weight can stabilize uncontrolled movements

 The weight increases sensory feedback to the child’s hand

 The weight improves handwriting skills

To date, there is no scienti c data to back up these claims. Despite this, parents, therapists, and teachers

continue to use weighted pencils as a strategy for helping children with autism write better.

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Benefits of weighted pencils for autism

Using weighted pencils for children with autism can have a few physical and emotional advantages. They

include:

 Developing gross and ne motor skills

 Improving handwriting
 Helping aid in academic performance
 Encouraging the child to write more often

 Decreasing frustration and promoting self-con dence

 Making writing a positive experience

It’s important to note that using weighted pencils alone cannot solve all of your child’s handwriting

challenges. However, it is immensely e ective and has a more signi cant impact when done with other

strategies.

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

How to make a weighted pencil

If you don’t want to purchase a weighted pencil you can create one yourself. With just a few household

items or an online kit, you can turn any pencil into a weighted one.

Here’s what you’ll need:

 Number 2 pencil

 Duct tape
 Craft foam
 Scissors

 2 7/16 O-Ring
 1 3/8-16 Coupling Nut

Step 1: Slide the coupling nut on to the number 2 pencil. Don’t place it too high nor too low. Find a good

spot in the middle of the pencil to achieve correct weight distribution.

Step 2: Wrap the coupling nut with foam sheets to add comfort

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Step 3: Wrap duct tape around the coupling nut

Step 4: Place black O-Rings on top and bottom of coupling nut to stabilize weight in appropriate
placement (add more O-Rings as you see t)

Tip: Use di erent weights to match the child’s age, size, and hand strength.

As with any assistive device for autism, weighted pencils are not a standalone solution to a complex

problem. Despite the positive e ects seen in most children, it remains to be a workaround. The ultimate

goal is for children to write well with regular writing instruments. Targeting the cause of the problem,

which in most cases involves ne motor skills and kinesthetic awareness, is a better way to achieve this

goal.

References:

E ectiveness of Occupational Therapy Strategies for Teaching Handwriting Skills to Kindergarten

Children. 13 December, 2011. Retrieved from:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ gure/10.1080/19411243.2011.629554?scroll=top&needAccess=true

Weighted Pencils And Handwriting – What Does The Evidence Say? Retrieved from:
https://www.yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2017/07/16/weighted-pencils-handwriting/

Kids With Autism Need Handwriting Help. 9 November, 2009. Retrieved from:
https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20091109/kids-with-autism-need-handwriting-help#1

Writing Aids, Slant Boards, Adaptive Writing Tools, Weighted Pencils. Retrieved from:
https://www.rehabmart.com/category/pediatric_writing_aids.htm

Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

 Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism

Understanding Motor Skills in Children With Dyspraxia, ADHD, Autism, and Other Learning
Disabilities. 2008. Retrieved from: https://books.google.com.ph/books?
id=fhQQBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA99&lpg=PA99&dq=weighted+pencil+for+autism&source=bl&ots=6XrIeMarvG&sig=ACfU

eit3es6YeUkTzcSJQ49Jw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiB_v_V-cPjAhWB-

2EKHeKZAdM4FBDoATADegQIChAD#v=onepage&q=weighted%20pencil%20for%20autism&f=false

Children with autism show speci c handwriting impairments. Retrieved from:

http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.528.5119

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other material contained within is never intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice,
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Benefits of Weighted Pencils for Autism