Dyscalculia Learning Disability: Symptoms, Test, And Treatment

What is Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is disability in learning and understanding mathematics. It is a learning disability in a child to comprehend math symbol and letters. He is unable to perform the basic math calculations.

The learning disability such as dyscalculia can be hereditary or it can be due to underdeveloped brain or an injury caused to the brain during birth or during the time of pregnancy.

Symptoms, Causes of Dyscalculia

It can also occur due to some bad experience in the past while studying mathematics. To learn maths the child has to visualize numbers and symbols, but in a dyscalculia child, this ability is not developed.If there is problem with sequencing, then he will find difficulty in memorizing the mathematical formulas.

  • The child finds difficulty in reading the numbers.
  • Finds difficulty in recalling the number in proper sequence.
  • When given to solve a problem, he will not be able to match the numbers.
  • Unlike a normal child, the dyscalculia child does not have the number sense.
  • If he is given to sort out toys with similar color, shape or size, he is unable to do so and gets confused.
  • The child finds to count the score when he is playing.
  • For them basic addition, subtraction, division and multiplication are the challenging task, and they fail to perform this task.

Adult Dyscalculia Symptoms:

  • He will always make mistake while noting phone numbers.
  • Difficulty in counting money.
  • Forgets dates and addresses.
  • Difficulty in remembering password, pin numbers etc.

Treatment for Dyscalculia

  • Children with dyscalculia should be well cared and supported by parents, teachers and siblings. Lest there are chances of self withdrawal from the subject.
  • This may have repercussions on his personality and self image. He will feel timid and low self esteemed.
  • Occupational therapy will be helpful in these children.
  • The child has to be taught with concrete examples while teaching calculations, rather than abstract and visual forms.