Dyscalculia

There are many types of learning disorders faced all over the world. An example is dyscalculia, which affects one’s ability to do math and is experienced by 3% to 7% of the global population. It is similar to the well-known reading disorder dyslexia. Dyscalculia affects the areas of the brain responsible for understanding math and number-related skills. Unfortunately, many people who have dyscalculia aren’t aware of their condition, which leads to anxiety, depression, and other difficult feelings.

What is the difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia?

Dyslexia: Learning disorder that affects one’s ability to read

Dyscalculia: Learning disorder that affects one’s ability to do math

Both are learning disorders categorized by the American Psychiatric Association as “specific learning disorders”. It’s possible to have both dyslexia and dyscalculia at the same time.

How does dyscalculia affect the brain?

Solving math problems actually requires many different skills to work together and produce the result. First, visual processing occurs when one sees the problem and sends components to the brain to process. Next, short-term memory captures the necessary information, like symbols, numbers, and order. Following that, the language area of the brain translates symbols into their meanings, like a plus sign for addition. Then, long-term memory kicks in to identify the type of problem being presented, such as an inequality or a multiplication problem. Next up, the brain section dedicated to understanding quantities and amounts translates symbols like the number 2 into the knowledge that it represents a specific quantity. Finally, the calculation occurs, and the math problem is solved. For neurotypical people, this process normally goes smoothly. People with dyscalculia may struggle with certain parts of this process.

What are some symptoms of dyscalculia?

As mentioned earlier, dyscalculia affects certain parts of the math problem-solving process. Depending on the individual and their age, this could cause different symptoms.

For young children, ranging from birth to around pre-K or kindergarten levels, this could include difficulties with:

• Counting upward

• Connecting a number to that many of an object

• Learning how to use money

• Organizing numbers (largest to smallest, first to last)

• Recognition of:

  • Numbers

  • Math symbols

  • Number lines

    
    

For school-age children, around primary school level, this could include difficulties with:

• Counting on fingers with small numbers (especially at older ages)

• Identifying small quantities of items by sight (needing to count out each one)

• Doing simple calculations from memory

• Memorizing multiplication tables

• Recognizing the same math problem with a change in the order of numbers/symbols (4+3=7 being the same as 7=3+4)

• Understanding word problems 

• Understanding more complex symbols (< meaning ‘less than’)

• Organizing numbers by scale (10s, 100s, 1,000s) or decimal place (0.1, 0.01, 0.001)

  
  

For teenagers and adults, this could include experiencing trouble with:

• Counting backward

• Solving word problems

• Breaking down multi-step problems to solve them

• Measuring items/quantities

• Using money

• Exchanging money (bills for coins/vice versa, making change)

• Understanding and converting fractions

  
  

For all ages:

• Anxiety

• Agitation

• Anger

• Aggression

• Fear

• Phobia of going to school

• Physical symptoms of any of the above (nausea, vomiting, sweating, stomachache)

How is dyscalculia treated or cured?

Dyscalculia in children is treatable, as their brains are not fully developed. They can learn and develop skills and abilities that help them adapt to the condition. Treatment can include one-on-one learning programs that focus on specific parts of the math problem-solving process that children struggle with. It is imperative that treatment begins as soon as possible, as this increases the chances of decreasing the impact of dyscalculia. Unfortunately, over time, the treatability of dyscalculia decreases. By adulthood, dyscalculia is considered untreatable, unless acquired dyscalculia (developed throughout life, potentially due to brain damage). Adults can compensate for dyscalculia by learning how to utilize technology and other methods to solve math problems. 

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Works Cited

Cleveland Clinic. “Dyscalculia: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic, 2 Aug. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23949-dyscalculia.