Spotlight on Dyscalculia

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.

What is 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.

What Are the Signs 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 1^st and 2^nd 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.

Dyscalculia Support

Here are some tips to help you and your child deal with the diagnosis of dyscalculia:

1. Reassure your child their learning disability has nothing to do with their intelligence. Having dyscalculia does not make your child any less intelligent and it is not a question of their abilities. It only signifies they learn differently, not worse.
2. Communication with your child’s teacher is key. Meet with your child’s teacher and compare notes to see if the teacher is observing any of the same behaviors or attitudes around math that you may be observing with your child at home. Your child’s teacher may have new insight that can confirm or alleviate some of your concerns.
3. Find a sense of community. Don’t be afraid to speak to other parents or family members with children that you trust. Finding a group that can relate to you and your child’s experience will help you and your child feel less alone and connect you with valuable resources that you may not have been aware of. One such group is the Learning Disabilities Association of America.
4. Talk to your child’s primary care physician and your child’s school for assistance on the accommodations, or support systems, that can be made for your child and for help in obtaining an official learning disability assessment and diagnosis. Accommodations can include allowing your child additional time to complete assignments or tests or allowing them to use a calculator when completing assignments.

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.

Mathnasium of Cherry Creek

(303) 333-6284