What can reversals in writing be caused by?

Reversals in writing, such as confusing letters or numbers (like writing "b" instead of "d"), can be significantly influenced by gaps in letter naming or cognitive load. When children struggle to recall or name letters proficiently, it can lead to reversals as they may not have fully internalized the shapes and orientations of letters. Increased cognitive load, which refers to the mental effort required to process information, can exacerbate this issue; when children are preoccupied or overloaded with information, their ability to focus on writing accurately diminishes. This cognitive overload often results in mistakes such as reversals, as their attention may be split between multiple tasks or concepts rather than solely on the act of writing.

The other options suggest factors that might influence writing ability but do not directly relate to the specific phenomenon of reversals in letters. For example, poor handwriting skills may lead to illegibility but not necessarily reversals, and a lack of interest in learning could affect motivation rather than cognitive processing capabilities directly. An over-reliance on visual aids can support learning, but if these aids are misapplied or not tailored to address foundational skills, they might not effectively mitigate reversals. Hence, gaps in letter naming and increased cognitive load are more directly linked