Lots of kids struggle with math, but for some the difficulties go beyond a little bit of frustration. If your child’s math troubles are serious — and persistent — they may be a sign of a learning disorder called dyscalculia.
What is dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a term used to describe specific learning disabilities that affect a child’s ability to understand, learn, and perform math and number-based operations.
How common is it?
Though research on prevalence is limited, it’s estimated that between 5 and 7% of elementary school aged children may have dyscalculia. It’s also currently thought that dyscalculia occurs equally in both genders.
Are all math difficulties caused by dyscalculia?
No. Not all difficulties in math class — even serious ones — are caused by dyscalculia. Disorders like dyslexia, visual or auditory processing, ADHD, and others can also impact a child’s ability to meet expectations in completing math problems. It’s also possible for kids who do have dyscalculia to have other learning disabilities as well. Many do.
What to look for
A young child with dyscalculia may:
- Have difficulty recognizing numbers
- Be delayed in learning to count
- Struggle to connect numerical symbols (5) with their corresponding words (five)
- Have difficulty recognizing patterns and placing things in order
- Lose track when counting
- Need to use visual aids — like fingers — to help count
And as math becomes a major part of the school day, kids with dyscalculia are likely to:
- Have significant difficulty learning basic math functions like addition and subtraction, times tables and more
- Be unable to grasp the concepts behind word problems and other non-numerical math calculations
- Have difficulty estimating how long it will take to complete a task
- Struggle with math homework assignments and tests
- Have difficulty keeping at grade-level in math
- Struggle to process visual-spatial ideas like graphs and charts
The impact of dyscalculia doesn’t stop when math class ends. The disorder can also affect kids outside of school. Children with dyscalculia also:
- Have trouble remembering numbers such as zip codes, phone numbers, or game scores
- Struggle with money matters such as making change, counting bills, calculating a tip, splitting a check or estimating how much something will cost.
- Have difficulty judging the length of distances and how long it will take to get from one location to another
- Struggle to remember directions
- Have a hard time telling left from right
- Get easily frustrated by games that require consistent score keeping, number strategies or counting
- Have difficulty reading clocks and telling time
A noticeable gap
The biggest sign of a specific learning disorder is a notable discrepancy between ability and aptitude. A kid with dyscalculia may preform well in other subjects — such as English or history — but have very low grades in math and math-based classes.
What’s the proper name for dyscalculia?
In the DSM-5, dyscalculia is called “specific learning disability with impairment in mathematics,” but “dyscalculia” is still an accepted term and is used by schools and learning specialists.
How is dyscalculia diagnosed?
There is no specific test for dyscalculia. Taking the following steps can help you get your child the help and accommodations he needs.
- Visit your doctor: Rule out any medical issues such as hearing or vision impairment that could be impacting your child’s learning process.
- Consult with your teacher: Ask your child’s math teacher to note the areas where he has the most trouble, and any and all strategies that help.
- Ask about other areas: It’s estimated that as many as half of kids with dyscalculia also have another learning issue. Understanding your child’s complete learning profile will help you advocate for his needs
- Consult a specialist: Once you’ve done the groundwork, talk to a learning professional who can evaluate your child and give you specific feedback on how to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dyscalculia is a word used to describe specific learning disabilities that affect a child’s ability to understand, learn, and perform math and number-based operations.
What is math dyslexia called? Math dyslexia is called dyscalculia. Math dyslexia or dyscalculia refers to a learning disability that makes it hard for children to understand and learn number-based activities.
What are some signs of dyscalculia? Some of the signs of dyscalculia are that a child is slow to learn to count or recognize numbers. Later, they may have trouble with word problems, reading a clock, and learning math concepts.
This article was last reviewed or updated on March 8, 2024.
FAQs
So what should parents watch for? Young kids with dyscalculia might have trouble recognizing numbers, learning to count, or recognizing basic patterns. As kids get older they might have trouble remembering numbers (like zip codes or game scores) and have a hard time telling left from right or figuring out distances.
How to spot dyscalculia in children? ›
What are some concrete tools to help kids with dyscalculia? Tools that will help kids with dyscalculia include a calculator they know how to use, pencils, graph paper to help them keep columns and numbers straight, and math apps for practicing essential skills.
How to test a child for dyscalculia? ›
How it works: The child is given written tests of math computation problems. (These are similar to the problems in the computation test, but easier.) The child must complete as many problems as possible within a certain time frame. The amount of time varies by age, but it's generally between three and five minutes.
How to pass math with dyscalculia? ›
How to teach math to students with dyscalculia
- Use physical objects. Relating math to everyday objects can help students with dyscalculia visualize and understand math concepts in a more concrete way. ...
- Break down problems into smaller steps. ...
- Provide visual aids. ...
- Use real-world examples. ...
- Provide extra time and support.
What Are the Signs of Dyscalculia?
- Difficulty learning fundamental math skills like addition and subtraction.
- Trouble identifying smaller quantities of items just by looking at them.
- Problems understanding and solving word problems.
- Struggles with processing graphs and charts.
- Difficulty keeping track of time.
Learning disabilities specifically related to math are called dyscalculia. Signs include difficulty recongnizing patterns or telling time, and they are often mistaken for ADHD.
What does severe dyscalculia look like? ›
Often drives too fast or too slow, or vastly misjudges how long it will take to drive somewhere. Needs to write down a phone number immediately to remember it. Gets lost easily; misplaces objects around the house frequently. Struggles to keep score in games; often loses track of whose turn it is.
What are the assessment tools for dyscalculia? ›
You may hear some of the following: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-V), Key Math (KeyMath-3), Wechsler Individual Achievement Test for math fluency only (WIAT-III), or the Feifer Assessment of Mathematics (FAM).
Can you self-diagnose dyscalculia? ›
Dyscalculia isn't a condition that you can self-diagnose or treat. In children, it's important that they see a healthcare provider to diagnose and treat this condition as soon as possible. Waiting makes it less likely that treatment programs can help.
What is the primary dyscalculia screener? ›
This short test is a quick initial assessment to see how far a pupil's abilities and skills match those of people who have been found to have dyscalculia. It comprises four or five subtests (age dependent) covering three areas: reaction time, capacity and achievement.
But they believe it's at least partly due to differences in how the brain is structured and how it functions. Here are two possible causes of dyscalculia: Genes and heredity: Dyscalculia tends to run in families. Research shows that genetics may also play a part in problems with math.
Can you be good at math but have dyscalculia? ›
It may be harder for adults with dyscalculia to learn and recall math facts, such as times tables. Estimation skills can also be affected. Dyscalculia is not a reflection of low intelligence, nor does it mean an adult will not be successful working through higher order mathematical reasoning.
What is the best intervention for dyscalculia? ›
Instruction and support for kids with dyscalculia
One is multisensory instruction. This teaching approach uses sight, touch, hearing, and movement to give kids different ways to learn skills and understand concepts. Multisensory math techniques can help kids understand what the numbers and symbols represent.
What are the red flags of dyscalculia? ›
Difficulty with Math-Related Concepts
For example, children may struggle to estimate small quantities of an item without counting each piece. Children with dyscalculia may also have trouble estimating speed or time in daily life (for example, how fast a baseball is coming toward them).
What strategies can help overcome dyscalculia? ›
Top ten Tips for teaching children with dyscalculia
- Use concrete manipulative materials. ...
- Play with dice and dominoes to improve recognition of spot patterns. ...
- Beware the 'counting trap' ...
- Focus on games and activities, rather than worksheets. ...
- Highlight the repeating decimal structure of the number system.
Dyscalculia encompasses a wide range of learning disabilities related to math. Students with dyscalculia may: have difficulty learning to count or have a poor memory for numbers. have trouble writing numbers, finding correct place values, and lining up equations.
How early can dyscalculia be identified? ›
Dyscalculia signs and symptoms
Problems with number sense may show up as early as preschool in some people. In other people, the challenges become clear as math gets more complex in school.
What age can you test for dyscalculia? ›
It is only by looking at the other factors contained within the test that a judgement can be made as to whether an individual is poor at maths because of dyscalculia. The test we have devised can be used by anyone from the age of 8 upwards. About 30% of the people who take the test are over the age of 18.
What do children with dyscalculia struggle with? ›
Children with dyscalculia may struggle to learn foundational mathematical skills and concepts, such as simple counting, adding, subtracting and simple multiplication as well as times tables.
How early can dyscalculia be diagnosed? ›
Assessing and Diagnosing Dyscalculia in Adults
Professionals can diagnose dyscalculia starting around age 6 when numbers are becoming more familiar. However, it's easy for many adults to live with dyscalculia without realizing they have it. Some develop workarounds to help them cope, effectively masking their symptoms.
