What are the Signs of Dyscalculia?

If your child has problems with the following, they may be more than bad at math:

●     conceptualizing numbers

●     counting

●     telling time

●     understanding amounts

●     answering simple arithmetic questions

They may have Dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia is a lifelong neurological disorder that interferes with the ability to understand and manipulate numbers and numerical concepts. Similar to dyslexia (challenges with reading) and dysgraphia (problems with written expression), dyscalculia is a learning disability that requires special attention to overcome.

If you suspect your child has dyscalculia, have them tested by a learning specialist at your local school. The earlier the intervention begins, the more likely your child will learn to manage and overcome their disability. For school-age children with learning disabilities, the local school district is required by law to provide an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) and provide additional instructional help as needed.

For children who require more intensive intervention than public schools can provide – which is most children with dyscalculia, dyslexia, and dysgraphia – families may hire private tutors with expertise in a structured, multisensory approach, like Multisensory Math. They may instead opt for a school that specializes in teaching children with learning differences. Make sure that the school you choose employs a structured, multisensory approach empirically proven to boost children’s academic achievement.

Signs of Dyscalculia in Young Children

●      Difficulty identifying numbers

●      Delays in learning to count

●      Counting on fingers long after others have stopped

●      Disconnect between numerical symbols (3) and their names (three).

●      Difficulty estimating how long it will take to complete a task

●      Trouble placing things in order

 

Signs of Dyscalculia in School-age Children

●      Difficulty learning basic math functions like addition and subtraction

●      Reaching different answers to the same math question

●      Inability to master simple math concepts like the commutative property  (X + Y = Y + X)

●      Trouble understanding time concepts

●      Failure to read clocks and tell time

●      Confusion over numerical word problems

●      Difficulty estimating times forward and backward

●      Struggles with understanding money

Roughly 1 in 20 children is diagnosed with dyscalculia in the U.S., making it a common but often overlooked condition. Its symptoms generally reveal themselves in pre-school or early elementary school, when children are learning to count, manipulate small numbers, and tell time.

Like dyslexia and dysgraphia, dyscalculia is not a child’s or parent’s “fault.” It is a neurological condition of unknown origin that can be largely overcome and managed through a specialized instructional program teaching children early a set of strategies and techniques. Children with dyscalculia learn differently and must be taught differently. Many children with dyscalculia are intelligent and possess numerous other skills, but they also experience other learning differences alongside dyscalculia, including ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia. Many children struggling with the impact of dyscalculia suffer from anxiety, depression, and physical effects like nausea. Addressing their learning disability nearly always mitigates or eliminates those symptoms.

Trident Academy in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., serves students with learning disabilities, employing teachers who employ a structured, multi-sensory approach that often involves one-on-one activities. Most of their students learn to read, write, and do math at grade level or beyond and “graduate” back into their school districts, earning their high school diplomas from traditional high schools alongside their friends and neighbors. Some students complete their secondary education at Trident Academy before moving on to a four-year or technical college, or into the job market.