All About Dyscalculia

We often have to deal with math in our everyday lives. Things like doing our taxes, halving a recipe, making change for purchases, and even reading clocks and using our time management skills (how long something may take us)! Even though many of us have to do these tasks often, it can be challenging for those who have dyscalculia.

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a “term used to refer to a pattern of difficulties characterized by problems processing numerical information, learning arithmetic facts, and performing accurate or fluent calculations” [1]. Dyscalculia is a common learning disability in which individuals have a difficult time with performing, learning, and understanding math and number-based operations [2, 3, 4]. Dyscalculia affects areas in the brain associated with skills related to math and numerical understanding [5].

Who is affected by Dyscalculia?

It is estimated that between 5-7% of elementary school-aged children [3] and 3-7% of all children, adolescents, and adults experience dyscalculia [5, 6]. All ages and genders can be affected by dyscalculia; however, it is often first noticeable when children are between the ages of 6 and 9 [5].

What are some potential symptoms of dyscalculia?

Potential signs and symptoms of dyscalculia may vary depending on one’s age [3,5]:

Importantly, as math becomes more prominent in a child’s school day, kids with dyscalculia are likely to experience difficulty learning basic math functions, struggle to grasp concepts behind word problems, have challenges estimating how long it may take to complete a task, struggle to complete math homework and tests, have difficult keeping up to grade-level expectations, and may struggle to process graphs and charts [3].

The Impact of Dyscalculia

This may be surprising, but the impact of dyscalculia is not isolated to math in itself, as this can affect individuals outside of math class as well [3, 5].

How can I Help?

There are various tools, resources, and techniques you can try! It is important to avoid overwhelming not only your child, but yourself, when choosing different strategies to try. Pick a couple strategies and see how they work for you and your child. If they don’t seem to be effective, try other strategies. The important thing is to remember that implementing new strategies takes time and every child is unique, and therefore will respond to different strategies in varying ways.

Some strategies you can try include:

Working with a tutor [7]. This can not only help your child practice their math skills, but can also help preserve you and your child’s relationship by having someone else work with your child on something that is challenging for them.
Supportive tools such as a calculator, graph paper, and fun math games/websites can be useful [7]!
Accommodations in the classroom such as a calculator, extra time on tests, quiet space to work, and recorded lectures can also be useful [7].
Teach your child anxiety management strategies [7]. When math is challenging, it can also induce feelings of anxiety. Try teaching them breathing exercises or other techniques to help them cope when they feel anxious.
Be sure to help build your child’s self-esteem, as it can feel embarrassing to have difficulty with math [7]. Praise their hard work, identify their strengths, provide positive reinforcement, and correct negative self-talk [7].

If you have concerns about your child’s learning, functioning, or if you think your child may have a learning disability, please email us at info@highpointpsychology.com to discuss the assessment process or to schedule an assessment. For more information on the assessments we provide, please visit our website at: https://www.highpointpsychology.com/pricing

References

[1] American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition Text Revision DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: Author.

[2] Child Mind Institute. (2024). Quick Guide to Dyscalculia. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/guide/quick-guide-to-dyscalculia/

[3] Jacobson, R. (2024). How to spot dyscalculia. Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/how-to-spot-dyscalculia/

[4] Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba. (n.d.). Dyscalculia. Retrieved from https://www.ldamanitoba.org/dyscalculia

[5] Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Dyscalculia. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23949-dyscalculia

[6] Haberstroh, S., & Schulte-Körne, G. (2019). The Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyscalculia. Deutsches Arzteblatt international, 116(7), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2019.0107

[7] Jacobson, R. (2024). How to help kids with Dyscalculia. Child Mind Institute. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-dyscalculia/

Blog post written by Kassandra Burk and reviewed by Dr. Andrea Stelnicki.

The information contained in this blog post is based on a narrative review of available literature. Some studies may have been unintentionally omitted. You are advised to speak with a healthcare professional to determine if the information is appropriate to your specific circumstances.