Dyscalculia is a learning disability that causes serious math difficulties. It isn’t as well-known as dyslexia. However, some researchers now think it may be almost as common.Dyscalculia is a brain-based condition that makes it hard to make sense of numbers and math concepts. Some kids with dyscalculia can’t grasp basic number concepts. They work hard to learn and memorize basic number facts. They may know what to do in math class but don’t understand why they’re doing it. In other words, they miss the logic behind it.

Other kids understand the logic behind the math but aren’t sure how and when to apply their knowledge to solving problems.

Dyscalculia goes by many names. Some public schools refer to it as a “mathematics learning disability.” Doctors sometimes call it a “mathematics disorder.” Many kids and parents call it “math dyslexia.”

Your child’s struggle with math can be confusing, especially if he’s doing well in other subjects. This can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem.

There are many tools and strategies that can help with dyscalculia. The trick is finding the ones that work best for your child. Dyscalculia is a lifelong condition, but that doesn’t mean your child can’t be happy and successful.

Number Sense and Other Difficulties

Dyscalculia can affect many different areas of math learning and performance. Different kids have different challenges.

The most common problem is with “number sense.” This is an intuitive understanding of how numbers work, and how to compare and estimate quantities on a number line. Most researchers agree that number sense is at the core of math learning. If kids don’t understand the basics about how numbers work, learning math and using it every day can be very frustrating.

Number blindness is one reason many kids have trouble connecting numbers to the real world. They can’t grasp the idea that “five cookies” has the same number of objects as “five cakes” and “five apples.”

 

 

 

 

What Causes Dyscalculia?

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes dyscalculia. But they’ve identified certain factors that indicate it’s a brain-based condition.

Here are some of the possible causes of dyscalculia:

• Genes and heredity:Studies of dyscalculia show it’s more common in some families. Researchers have found that a child with dyscalculia often has a parent or sibling with similar math issues. So dyscalculia may be genetic.[10]
• Brain development:Researchers are using modern brain imaging tools to study the brains of people with and without math issues. What we learn from this research will help us understand how to help kids with dyscalculia. The study also found differences in the surface area, thickness and volume of parts of the brain. Those areas are linked to learning and memory, setting up and monitoring tasks and remembering math facts.
• Environment:Dyscalculia has been linked to exposure to alcohol in the womb.Prematurity and low birth weight may also play a role in dyscalculia.
• Brain injury:Studies show that injury to certain parts of the brain can result in what researchers call “acquired dyscalculia.”

For children with dyscalculia, it’s unclear how much their brain differences are shaped by genetics and how much by their experiences.

Researchers are trying to learn if certain interventions for dyscalculia can “rewire” a child’s brain to make math easier. This concept is known as “neuroplasticity” and has been shown to work in people with dyslexia.

What Are the Symptoms of Dyscalculia?

The signs of dyscalculia also look different at different ages. Dyscalculia tends to become more apparent as kids get older. But it can be detected as early as preschool. Here’s what to look for:

Warning Signs of Dyscalculia in a Preschooler or Kindergartener

• Has trouble learning to count, especially when it comes to assigning each object in a group a number. (Teachers refer to this as one-to-one correspondence.)
• Has trouble recognizing number symbols. Example: making the connection between “7” and the word seven.
• Struggles to connect a number to a real-life situation, such as knowing that “3” can apply to any group that has three things in it—3 cookies, 3 cars, 3 kids, etc.
• Has trouble remembering numbers, and skips numbers long after kids the same age can count numbers and remember them in the right order.
• Finds it hard to recognize patterns and sort items by size, shape or color.
• Avoids playing popular games like Candy Land that involve numbers, counting and other math concepts.
• Has trouble recognizing numbers and symbols.
• Has difficulty learning and recalling basic math facts, such as 2 + 4 = 6.
• Struggles to identify +, ‒ and other signs and use them correctly.
• May still use fingers to count instead of using more sophisticated strategies.
• Has trouble writing numerals clearly or putting them in the correct column.
• Has trouble coming up with a plan to solve a math problem.
• Struggles to understand words related to math, such asgreater thanandless than.
• Has trouble telling his left from his right, and has a poor sense of direction.
• Has difficulty remembering phone numbers and game scores.
• Avoids playing games like Risk that involve number strategy.
• Has trouble telling time.
• Struggles to apply math concepts to everyday life. This includes money matters such as estimating the total cost, making exact change and figuring out a tip.
• Has trouble  measuring things, like ingredients in a simple recipe.
• Struggles with finding his way around and worries about getting lost.
• Has hard time grasping information shown on graphs or charts.
• Has trouble finding different approaches to the same math problem.
• Lacks confidence in activities that require estimating speed and distance, such as playing sports and learning to drive.

Warning Signs of Dyscalculia in a Grade-Schooler and Middle-Schooler

Warning Signs of Dyscalculia in a High-Schooler

What Skills Are Affected by Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia affects more than your child’s ability to handle math class and homework. Math skills and concepts are used everywhere from the kitchen to the playground to the workplace.

It’s understandable if you’re concerned about the long-term impact of dyscalculia on your child’s life. But once you identify your child’s weaknesses, you can find ways to work around them by building on strengths. Here are some everyday skills and activities your child may find difficult:

• Social skills:Failing repeatedly in math class can lead your child to assume failure is inevitable in other areas too. Low self-esteem can affect your child’s willingness to makenew friendsor participate in afterschool activities. He might also avoid playing games and sports that involve math and keeping score.
• Sense of direction:Your child might have trouble learning left from right. He may have trouble getting places by reading maps or following directions. Some kids with dyscalculia can’t picture things in their minds. Does your child have trouble imagining how a building or other three-dimensional object would look if viewed from another angle? If so, he may worry about getting lost when changing classes, riding a bike or driving a car.
• Physical coordination:Dyscalculia can affect how the brain and eyes work together. So your child may have trouble judging distances between objects. He may seem clumsier than other kids the same age.
• Money management:Dyscalculia can make it difficult to stick to a budget, balance a checkbook and estimate costs. It can also make it hard to calculate a tip and count exact change.
• Time management:Dyscalculia can affect your child’s ability to measure quantities, including units of time. Your child may have trouble estimating how long a minute is or keeping track of how much time has passed. This can make it hard to stick to a schedule.
• Other skills:A child may have trouble figuring out how much of an ingredient to use in a recipe. He might have a hard time estimating how fast another car is moving or how far away it is.

 

How Can Professionals Help With Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia isn’t as well-known as other learning issues, such as dyslexia. You may need to be persistent to get schools and doctors to take a closer look at your child’s struggles with math.

Here are people who can help:

Your child’s teachers: If your child has been identified with dyscalculia and is eligible for special education services, you and the school will come up with a plan of supports and accommodations. These may include giving extra time for tests or letting your child use a calculator.

But even without a diagnosis, your child’s school can do several things to help your child succeed.

• Informal accommodations are strategies teachers often use to help struggling students. Enlisting the support of your child’s teacher is an important step. Set up a meeting to talk about your mutual concerns. Ask if the teacher is willing to keep a journal of how your child responds to different strategies or math-related activities. You can do the same at home and compare notes. Here are some common strategies teachers use to help kids with dyscalculia:

1. oUsing concrete examples that connect math to real life, to strengthen your child’s number sense. Examples: sorting buttons or other familiar objects.
2. oUsing visual aids when solving problems, including drawing pictures or moving around physical objects—which teachers refer to as “manipulatives.”
3. oAssigning manageable amounts of work so your child won’t feel overloaded.
4. oReviewing a recently learned skill before moving on to a new one, and explaining how the skills are related.
5. oSupervising work and encouraging your child to talk through the problem-solving process. This can help make sure he’s using the right math rules and formulas.
6. oBreaking new lessons into smaller parts that easily show how different skills relate to the new concept. Teachers call this process “chunking.”
7. oLetting your child use graph paper to help keep numbers lined up.
8. oUsing an extra piece of paper to cover up most of what’s on a math test so your child can focus on one problem at a time.
9. oPlaying math-related games designed to help your child have fun and feel more comfortable with math.

• After trying some informal accommodations, you or the school may recommend getting a 504 plan. This is a written plan detailing how the school will accommodate your child’s needs. Accommodations can include things like letting a child:

1. oHave more time to take a test.
2. oAnswer fewer questions on a test.
3. oRecord lessons and lectures.
4. oUse a calculator in class.

• Another option is to have your child evaluated for special education services. This will determine whether your child qualifies for anIndividualized Education Program (IEP).

An IEP gives you access to more resources, such as assistive technology to help with calculating and other math skills. Either you or the school can request an evaluation.

Tutors: A tutor can work with your child individually or in a small group. This can help your child focus on mastering the basics and practice skills. A tutor may be able to come up with alternative ways to help your child understand and use math concepts.

Your child’s doctor: Sometimes dyscalculia can take such a toll on your child’s self-esteem that anxiety and depression can set in. Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. A psychologist or other mental health professional might be able to help your child—and you—manage stress.

Parent advocates: A valuable resource are nonprofit parent advocacy centers. These centers are staffed by parents of children with disabilities. They know how to advocate for their kids and can help you do the same. There’s at least one center in every state.

 

What Can Be Done at Home for Dyscalculia?

Parenting a child with dyscalculia can be challenging, especially if you’ve never been confident in your own math skills. But you don’t have to be a math expert. Below are several ways you can help improve your child’s ability to work with numbers. Improving math skills could strengthen his self-esteem and resilience.

Keep in mind that kids (and families) are all different. It will take trial and error to see what suits you and your child. But finding the right strategies and seeing improvement can boost everyone’s confidence.

Don’t panic if the first strategies you try aren’t effective. You may need to try different approaches to find out what works best for your child. Here are some things you can try at home:

• Learn as much as you can.Understanding the nature of dyscalculia is a good first step toward helping your child strengthen math-related skills. Let your child know that you understand what he’s going through—and that you don’t think he’s lazy, unmotivated or not smart. This can give him the encouragement he needs to keep working on that thorny math problem. It may also reduce some of the anxiety or feelings of inferiority he may be experiencing.
• Play math games.Practicing number concepts can improve skills and help reduce anxiety at school. Use household objects such as toys, grapes or pairs of socks as often as you can to help connect numbers to everyday activities. Try not to dwell on it or force these games on your child. That might make your child more anxious. Learning is easier when kids are happy and relaxed.
• Create a homework station.Help your child be more productive during homework time by carving out a space that has as few distractions as possible. You can also help your child by breaking assignments down in smaller, more manageable steps, such as doing five math problems and then taking a break before working on the next five problems.
• Cozy up with the calculator.For kids who have trouble remembering basic math facts, a calculator can help them focus on using reasoning and problem solving. These skills are highly valued in the workplace—where using a calculator isn’t considered cheating!
• Boost confidence.Identify your child’s strengths and use them to work on (or work around) weaknesses. Activities that tap into your child’s interests and abilities can help improve self-esteem and increase your child’s resilience. Try to pace yourself and don’t use more than one strategy at a time. That makes it easier to tell which ones are producing a good result.
• Help your child keep track of time.Whether it’s a hand on the shoulder, a few key words or a cell phone alarm, have a system in place to remind your time-challenged child when to start the next activity.
• Be upbeat.Let your child know when you see him do something well. Praising effort and genuine achievement can help your child feel loved and supported. It can also give your child the confidence to work harder at building skills and help him stay motivated to try new things.

By: Marilyn P. Mendoza | SPED Teacher I | Antonio G. Llamas Elementary School | Mariveles, Bataan