Adaptive Writing Pens, also known as handwriting aids and assistive writing aids, feature ergonomically designed grips and many other adaptive configurations that enable children, adults and seniors with disabilities or manual weaknesses to more easily perform writing tasks.
What are Adaptive Writing Pens?
Also known as assistive writing tools, adaptive writing pens are available in a wide range of styles and sizes, offering a multitude of varying form and function. Utilized for a host of applications, these specialized writing pens offer ease of use to people of all ages who experience writing challenges.
Children and adults with certain developmental delays or disabilities may be challenged with writing endeavors, as can the elderly, or those with arthritis and other disabling and painful conditions that affect hand strength. People with Parkinson’s disease and other health conditions and disease may have tremors, spasticity and/or incoordination that make handwriting difficult.
Because handwriting is such a complex activity for anyone, regardless of ability or disability, the selection of the correct writing equipment is crucial to success with this endeavor. While there are other factors to consider to improve writing skills such as the appropriate attendant physical and occupational therapy, proper seating position and desk/writing surface, choosing the correct writing pen that is well suited for the individual’s unique needs and requirements will make a big difference for the user.
This individual assessment will help determine what kind of alternative writing pen is most appropriate. Differing issues such as decreased coordination, low proprioceptive input, poor hand strength, muscle pain, tremors, spasms, and inappropriate grasp patterns can all benefit from the use of adaptive writing pens, but different issues require different pens. Children just learning to write may get better results with one type of assistive writing device, while an older user with arthritis may benefit from another. It is always recommended to consult with a healthcare professional in order to make the best selection for your personal needs.
How Adaptive Writing Pens Can Help
Adaptive writing pens help people of all ages to participate with handwriting. They can assist children of any ability to develop better finger dexterity and hand coordination, and can aid physically challenged children to overcome some of the aspects of their disabilities to be able to write. Many of the alternative pen styles offer increased leverage and promote proper alignment to help reduce strain.
All alternative writing pens are designed to provide a suitable grip for writing, and designs differ to fulfill individual applications. Many styles are weighted, which provides greater stabilization and sensory input for writers with hand weakness, tremors, spasms and incoordination. Large and soft pen grips help to prevent slippage when pressure is applied, and give users a more supported and comfortable way of holding the pen. Differently configured pens that come in triangular shapes, or that have rings to put the fingers through, offer a better writing alternative grip for certain users. Retractable styles tend to reduce writing fatigue, and usually feature larger, softer grips, as well. Most of these styles also help to reduce the amount of force required to write, which results in less pain and discomfort for the writer.
Often lighter in weight, ergonomically designed writing pens offer all users a more comfortable and properly aligned writing grip, and help to promote correct writing postures. Low vision writers can also find great writing support with lighted pens, and pens that write in bolder, darker ink. Some adaptive writing pens we offer have also received “ease of use” commendations from the American Arthritis Foundation.
Rehabmart is pleased to offer an expanding array of highly functional adaptive writing pens from such outstanding vendors as North Coast, Maddak, MaxiAids and Snug Seat.
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO
ck
