Dyscalculia - What Is It? How Can We Help Those Who Have It?
What is dyscalculia? Many people have heard about dyslexia, but not nearly as many have heard of dyscalculia. In the same way that dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it hard to read and to spell, dyscalculia is a learning disability that makes it hard to understand and work with numbers and mathematical concepts.
You have most likely heard of dyslexia - a learning disability that affects reading and spelling. Did you know that three other distinct learning disabilities impact different aspects of learning and development?
Dysgraphia is a learning disability that impacts the ability to write, including handwriting, spelling, and grammar.
Dyscalculia is a learning disability in math that can involve difficulty with understanding numbers, quantities, and math symbols.
Dyspraxia is also known as a developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and it affects motor coordination and balance, impacting fine and gross motor skills.
All of the above fall under the diagnosis of “Specific learning disorder” in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). People can have more than one specific learning disorder. Many people and some celebrities have more than one specific learning disorder and still triumph in life. For example, Cher has both dyslexia and dyscalculia.
What Are Some Early Signs of Dyscalculia?
Early signs of dyscalculia in preschoolers and school-age children include difficulty:
with counting;
recognizing numbers and math symbols;
understanding basic math concepts;
organizing numbers, such as largest to smallest;
recognizing and using number lines;
recalling math facts;
performing calculations;
estimating quantities and measuring quantities (such as when cooking/baking);
learning how to work with money;
telling time and time management;
recognizing patterns; and
connecting numbers to quantities.
The DSM-5 defines dyscalculia as a Specific learning disorder that is a neurodevelopmental disorder of biological origin manifested in learning difficulties and problems in acquiring academic skills markedly below age level and manifested in the early school years, lasting for at least 6 months; not attributed to intellectual disabilities, developmental disorders, or neurological or motor disorders, with impairment in mathematics (difficulties mastering number sense, number facts or calculation and/or difficulties with mathematical reasoning).
How is Dyscalculia Diagnosed?
Education professionals and parents are most likely to be the first to notice the symptoms of dyscalculia. I (Nicole Hancock, Founder of Clever Minds Online Learning Centre) have noticed signs of dyscalculia in a few of my students during my years of teaching. This makes sense, since I am a high school math teacher and have my Post-Graduate Diploma in Inclusive Education. However, an educational psychologist, neuropsychologist, school psychologist, and/or child psychiatrists and school health services professionals must be involved in an official diagnosis. The diagnosis involves testing a child’s specific math-related skills and ruling out other possible causes, such as vision or hearing problems, other brain- or mental health-related conditions, etc. Teachers can offer resources and guidance on next steps when they notice signs of dyscalculia. Parents who notice signs of dyscalculia can talk to their child’s pediatrician to learn more about the process of diagnosing and treating dyscalculia.
Is Dyscalculia a Sign of Lower Intelligence?
No! The person has a brain that processes mathematical information differently. It is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a measure of overall intelligence. Many adults have dyscalculia and do not know it. It is important to have a proper diagnosis completed because many people think negatively about themselves and experience anxiety and depression when they have trouble with math, and they are not aware that it is because they have a neurodevelopmental condition and that it is possible to get help for it.
Dyscalculia is a Type of Neurodivergence
Neurodiversity is a term that describes how no two people have the same brain, and everyone’s brain forms and develops in a completely unique way. People who have dyscalculia are neurodivergent. Their brains work differently from the brains of those who do not have dyscalculia.
What is the Difference Between Developmental Dyscalculia and Acquired Dyscalculia?
Development dyscalculia is a learning disability that is present from early childhood. On the other hand, acquired dyscalculia often appears later in life, but it can happen at any age and usually happens for reasons such as a medical condition.
What Causes Developmental Dyscalculia?
Development dyscalculia has a significant genetic component. It is often found in multiple family members. Brain imaging studies have revealed differences in brain structure and function in individuals with dyscalculia, especially in areas related to learning skills. Research indicates that it might share some genetic roots with other learning disabilities, such as dyslexia, and with other neurodivergent conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A study from the National Institutes of Health has identified specific genes or gene regions that might be linked to dyscalculia. In the study, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants in the DGKI, DIP2A, KIAA0319, and PCNT genes were found in eight out of the nine families studied.
It is most likely that dyscalculia results from a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors.
Many People Struggle With Math. Does That Mean That Dyscalculia is Extremely Common?
There is a difference between struggling with math and having dyscalculia. A survey by Cuemath found that 82% of students in grades 7-10 in the United States struggle with math. Math anxiety affects an estimated 20% to 30% of students. Furthermore, approximately 93% of adult residents of the United States indicate that they experience some level of math anxiety, according to the National Institutes of Health. However, it is estimated that only around 5% to 7% of the population has dyscalculia. It is interesting to note that not all people with dyscalculia experience math anxiety, but it is a commonly associated condition.
How is Dyscalculia Treated?
Students are taught skills and guided in developing abilities they need to adapt to this condition. Treatment usually takes the form of one-on-one learning programs. The tutoring sessions that Clever Minds Online Learning Centre provides for students are one-on-one learning programs that are tailored to their needs.
The programs are symptom-specific and focus on what a child struggles with most. Treatment should start as soon as possible. The sooner the treatment starts, the better the chances for children to adapt to this condition and limit the impacts. I have a large amount of experience and knowledge related to diagnostic assessments and progress assessments, so I can identify what children struggle with most. I also have experience teaching students as young as three years of age.
As a teacher with over 21 years of teaching experience, with an Education Degree with a major in Mathematics Education, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Inclusive Education, and experience teaching students who have dyscalculia, I am a uniquely positioned specialist who can help students who have dyscalculia. Since Clever Minds Online Learning Centre is a registered business, tutoring expenses for students with dyscalculia are deductible when the services are rendered by a qualified professional (such as myself) and recommended by a medical practitioner. It is easy to organize the receipts that you receive through the website’s scheduling system, or to have me send you the receipts at tax time.
One of the best ways that you can help your child who has dyscalculia is to take advantage of our expertise to reduce the effects of the disability. Here are some other helpful tips:
Find what works and use it! For example, some children benefit from math games.
Be patient! Children with dyscalculia have a recognized condition that disrupts their ability to do math like children who do not have this condition can do. This is not something that they can change or help, but with assistance from experts, they can learn to overcome it. I am an expert who has often been praised for my patience.
Be supportive and encouraging! They are more likely to succeed at learning to overcome it if they feel they have someone backing them along the way. Many students feel relieved when their parents sign them up for lessons through Clever Minds Online Learning Centre. They know that their parents are willing to put resources into helping them with their learning disability, they regularly have someone helping them with their most difficult area of learning, and they have another adult supporting them in their journey! It is important to offer support and encouragement to children who have this learning disability because, without that support, children are prone to having low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. Children who have encouragement and support are more likely to succeed and learn how to work through their condition, keeping it from limiting them in the future.
Some People with Learning Disabilities Call Them Gifts
Learning disabilities can compel students to work harder to keep up with their peers. This can instill a drive that ultimately propels them to great success. Some people with learning disabilities call them “learning gifts” because their brains are wired slightly differently and, as a result, they get some extra benefits.
Students who have dyscalculia often excel in areas such as verbal communication, creative arts, problem-solving, and visual-spatial skills. I have definitely seen that to be true, since one of my former students who had dyscalculia was very interested and talented in theatre, and one of my current students who has dyscalculia is very interested in theatre and films. Also, as a math teacher, I have many friends who are also math teachers, and we all struggle with visual-spatial skills. I am surprised many days that I have not gotten lost in my own home! Students who have dyscalculia might also have strengths in other areas like intuition, strategic thinking, and holistic problem-solving. I have found that many of my students who have dyscalculia are very strong in English Language Arts.
A Scholarship for Canadian Students with Learning Disabilities and Gifts
Canadian students with a documented learning disability and gift who are applying to post-secondary school can apply for Full Potential Scholarships through the Ronnen Harary Foundation. Full Potential Scholarships include both financial aid and tutoring support for each recipient. The scholarship has a value of $9,000 over four years ($1,000 of tuition per year that is renewable up to four years and tutoring). Visit this webpage to learn more about scholarships that are available for Canadian post-secondary students who have disabilities. The Canada Student Grant for Students with Disabilities is also available to students with disabilities for each year of study, and students can receive $2,800 per year that could reduce or replace the need for a student loan (this grant is not available to students from the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Quebec, since they have their own student aid programs). Post-secondary students who have disabilities can also receive up to $20,000 per school year for services and equipment. You can also find post-secondary education disability funding that is specific to each province/territory.
There is a webpage for American students that has information about scholarships for students with learning disabilities.