Technology has made typing an essential skill for most people today. Many academic courses are taught online, professional conferences are conducted remotely, and even doctors are communicating via email. By high school, students are expected to type assignments frequently, and many schools contain computer labs for student use.
However, for people with learning or motor difficulties, touch typing can present serious challenges. Here are some of the top challenges that can make touch typing challenging:
Difficulties with Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Touch typing requires control over the fine motor movements of fingers and wrists, as well as the ability to hold our arms and hands in certain positions for extended periods of time. For people with a lower ability to control such movements, this can be a serious struggle. Coordinating the movement of two hands at the same time, in addition to the individual finger movements, can often make the process overwhelming or physically painful. The additional accessories for computer use can also be delicate, such as using a trackpad or external mouse.
Memory and Language Delays
Touch typing also involves memorization of key positioning and spelling. Typists are discouraged from looking directly at the keyboard when typing, which may be necessary for those who cannot hold key spacing in their memory.
Additionally, individuals with language delays will not have the spelling ability to recall the letter sequences essential to quick typing instantly. The QWERTY keyboard layout can also be confusing for children or those new to typing, as the layout is not in the same order as the alphabet.
Visual and Spatial Challenges
Being able to consistently keep both hands in the right place is a foundational part of typing. Individuals who visual and spatial delays may have a difficult time learning to type this way. They may also have trouble remembering the specific spacing between different letters. Finding specific keys on the keyboard could also be a challenge, as most keyboards offer little visual distinction across keys.
Attention Issues
Focus is important for accurate and speedy typing. While the physical aspect of typing may not require much more focus than writing by hand, the extra visual input from the screen can be distracting to people with attention delays such as ADHD. Autocorrect, for example, draws immediate attention to spelling mistakes and can pull focus from the task at hand.
This is not a complete list, and it may not represent the full scope of challenges when learning to type. If you or your child are struggling with these issues, there are ways to facilitate the process.
- First, use whatever typing method works best. Struggling with a process can be very discouraging, and using an “incorrect” approach is better than giving up completely!
- Second, try getting a different keyboard. A specialist can help you identify one that best suits your needs and challenges. It may go a long way toward helping you improve your confidence and comfort.
Whatever the challenge may be, patience is vital. Learning to type can go a long way toward improving access to resources and opportunities, and this access should not be available to everyone. The most important step is identifying the specific challenge so that you know how to adjust your approach.
