Most parents are familiar with the term, “dyslexia,” a learning disability where there is difficulty with reading or spelling due to issues with identifying letters or words. Naturally, children with dyslexia may also have difficulty with math, as math still involves language to some degree, such as reading math word problems. However, there is another learning disability related to numbers specifically, called dyscalculia.
Dyscalculia is difficulty with reading and understanding numbers. Often termed as “dyslexia for numbers,” or “number dyslexia,” dyscalculia causes great difficulty with trying to learn math subjects. For example, a child with dyscalculia who sees the number “19” may be confused and have difficulty because they see “19” yet read it as “91”. Or they may be able to solve the problem, 3+2 = 5, but become confused when numbers are written in reverse as 2+3. If your child is showing signs of struggles with numbers in general, and not just math, it may be a sign of dyscalculia.
It’s possible for a child to have both dyslexia and dyscalculia. However, the two learning disabilities are not exactly the same. Dyscalculia may present itself in varying ways in a student, based on their grade in school.
Elementary School and Middle-School Age
In young children, such as 1st and 2nd grade, you may observe issues with counting in order or in groups, or notice a child often skips over numbers when counting. They may become confused when doing activities involving perception or patterns, such as noticing the difference between smallest to largest. You may observe your child having difficulty with understanding that the number “3” and “three” are the same.
In older elementary or middle school children, dyscalculia may present itself by them preferring to count on their fingers or having trouble remembering simple math problems, like 2+2 = 4. They may have trouble correctly using math symbols, such as the + or – sign or the greater than (>) or less than {
High School
Lastly, in high school students that may have dyscalculia, they may have difficulty interpreting charts and graphs, difficulty figuring exact change and may demonstrate difficulty with taking accurate measurements.
These possible signs are not a one-size fits all, as dyscalculia may show up differently in each child. However, if you suspect your child may have dyscalculia, there are steps you can take to assist and support them.
Here are some tips to help you and your child deal with the diagnosis of dyscalculia:
With the right support, your child will be able to thrive despite their math learning disability. An additional accommodation that may be helpful to your child is tutoring or supplemental math instruction. Here at Mathnasium we offer specialized instruction for students in grades 2 through 12. Give us a call or send us an email to connect with us. We would love to be a part of you and your child’s support team.
