Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability in the area of mathematics. It has also been termed number blindness. This, much like dyslexia, is a neurological problem. Symptoms of Dyscalculia include:
- Difficulty working with numbers
- Confused by math symbols
- Difficulty with basic facts (adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing)
- Often will reverse or transpose numbers (36: 63)
- Difficulty with mental math
- Difficulty telling time
- Difficulty with directions (as for playing a game)
- Difficulty grasping and remembering math concepts
- Poor memory for layout of things (for example, numbers on a clock)
- Limited strategic planning skills (like used in chess)
A child with dyscalculia will have average or above average intelligence but cannot achieve to that degree in the area of mathematics.
How is Dyscalculia Diagnosed?
An awareness of the problem by either the teacher or parent brings this disability to light. The family physician will likely refer the child to a specialist. This specialist will administer a battery of tests to determine the presence of a disability. Often a special educator and a school psychologist will also be involved in the testing and diagnosis.
How is Dyscalculia Treated?
There is no cure for Dyscalculia, but with intervention, a child with discalculia can learn math and can function in the world. Typically instruction involves multi-sensory methods and other alternate methods of teaching any given math skill. Repetitive practice does not generally aid a child with dyscalculia. A child diagnosed with dyscalculia will typically receive an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) to guide instruction.
How to Help a Child with Discalculia?
Play math games that practice and review concepts. Touch math is an excellent way to teach children their basic facts, and is a strategy that students with no math disability can learn and benefit from as well. Basically touch math uses a multi-sensory approach to learning math, where students physically touch points on each number with their pencil point.
Work to help the student visualize math problems. This includes simple things like drawing a picture or chart. Have the child look at pictures charts or graphs provided in the math book, and spend the time to really explain the graphs before moving on to solving the problem.
Try having the child read the problem aloud, and see if that helps. Give him an example of the problem worked out or think about a real life example of the problem. Use graph paper to help keep the numbers lined up correctly, and un-clutter the worksheets that will go home to prevent too much visual information from being distracting.
The most important thing a teacher or parent can do for a child with dyscalculia is to never give up. Each child can learn; some just learn differently. It may take a bit of extra effort, and some creative teaching methods, to help the child with dyscalculia be successful in math class.
Learn more tips on how to teach math, including tips on teaching a student with a math disability. You may also be interested in tips on how to teach basic facts.
Jennifer Wagaman - Jennifer is a mother of 2 and has both public, private and administrative experience in the education field.
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