What is Dyscaculia?
It’s not unusual for a child to have a tough time with math homework every so often. However, if they have problems with numbers or low math test scores, yet excel in other subjects, they could have a math learning disability called dyscalculia.
It’s a neurological condition that makes basic arithmetic hard to learn. Up to 7% of elementary school students have dyscalculia. Research suggests it’s as common as dyslexia, a reading disorder, but not as well understood.
It can be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – up to 60% of people who have ADHD also have a learning disorder, like dyscalculia.
Symptoms
Kids with dyscalculia may lose track when counting. They may count on their fingers long after kids the same age have stopped doing it.
They may find it hard to know at a glance how many things are in a group — a skill called “subitizing,” the ability to instantly recognize “how many” in a small set. An example of subitizing is dice. This ability helps you see a 5 and a 3 after you roll the dice, without really counting.
The basic understanding of numbers, or “number sense,” may not click well with children with dyscalculia. This can make it hard to quickly tell, for example, if the number 8 is a bigger number than 6. Children with dyscalculia can show signs of anxiety when it comes with numbers, and they may panic at the thought of math homework.
School-aged kids with dyscalculia may find it hard to:
- Estimate things, including how long something takes or the ceiling height
- Understand math word problems
- Learn basic math, such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication
- Link a number (1) to its corresponding word (one)
- Understand fractions
- Understand graphs and charts (visual-spatial concepts)
- Count money or make change
- Remember phone numbers or ZIP codes
- Tell time or read clocks
Treatment
Teachers can help students with dyscaculia by doing
- Specially designed teaching plans such as multisensory instruction: This teaching approach uses sight, touch, hearing and movement to give kids different ways to learn skills and understand concepts.
- Math-based learning games
- Assistive technology can also help. There are many AT tools for math that kids can use at school and at home. These include graphing tools, math notation tools and graphic organizers for math.
Here are some things parents can try to help your child better learn and understand math and lower their anxiety:
- Let them use their fingers and paper when they count.
- Make sure they have the right tools, like an easy-to-use calculator and plenty of erasers.
- Use graph paper. It helps keep columns and numbers straight and neat.
- Use rhythm and music to teach math facts and steps.
- Get an experienced math tutor to help.
- Draw pictures of math word problems.
- Schedule computer time to play math games.
- Praise their hard work, not the outcome.
- Talk with them about their learning disability.
- Teach them ways to manage anxiety.
Work Cited
“Dyscalculia: Symptoms & Treatment of the Math Learning Disability.” WebMD, WebMD, www.webmd.com/add-adhd/childhood-adhd/dyscalculia-facts.
Morin, Amanda. “Treatment for Kids With Dyscalculia.” Understood, Understood, 22 Oct. 2020, www.understood.org/articles/en/treatment-options-for-dyscalculia.
