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. Show
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 forA young child with dyscalculia may:
And as math becomes a major part of the school day, kids with dyscalculia are likely to:
The impact of dyscalculia doesn’t stop when math class ends. The disorder can also affect kids outside of school. Children with dyscalculia also:
A noticeable gapThe 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.
This article was last reviewed or updated on September 21, 2022. | Learning disorder vs learning disability | Learning differences | 3 Types of learning disabilities | Causes | Signs | Educational Challenges | Treatment | An individual with a specific learning disability (SLD) has one or more impairments in basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language. The deficits manifest themselves as having an imperfect ability to listen, think, speak write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. SLD encompasses a diverse group of disorders. Perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia also fall under this disability category1. First adopted by the National Joint Committee in the United States for Learning Disabilities in 1981,
Specific learning disability is not the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, mental retardation, emotional disturbance, environmental, cultural differences, or economic disadvantage. In 2019-2020, 14% of students in public schools received special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), of which 33% were in the specific learning disabilities category3. Specific Learning disability is different from generalized learning failure in that usually students with SLD have average or above-average intelligence. While they struggle in some areas with learning, they also have many strengths. “You cannot judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree.” Those with a specific learning disability (SLD) will appreciate this saying more than anyone else. As implied in the quote, it would be unfortunate if a student’s SLD leads to judgments about their general intellectual ability. With the right support, individuals with SLD can achieve success at school. Learning disorder vs learning disabilityWe often hear the terms disability and disorder used interchangeably, but what is the difference between the two? The National Center for Learning Disabilities states that while the term “specific learning disorder” is used by the medical or healthcare systems, “disability” is more often used as a legal term. It represents an important legal standpoint because it qualifies children at school age with such conditions to receive special education services under federal law. Learning differencesSome people prefer to use the term learning difference, pointing out that these children simply learn in different ways from other children, and can be taught to overcome their limitations. While this might be true, the term learning disability remains actively in use because of the legal implications. Specific learning disability often co-occurs with other neurological disorders like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, and mood disorders4. It is important to distinguish specific learning disabilities from other disorders like autism and intellectual disability. Specific learning disabilities also cannot be explained by emotional disturbance or sensory difficulties, or an inadequate opportunity to receive education5. 3 Types of learning disabilitiesDyscalculia (Dyscalculia Dyslexia)Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that affects how people learn mathematical calculations. Studies suggest that 5-6% of school-aged children have dyscalculia6. The symptoms of dyscalculia in different children depend on how old they are. For instance, kids in elementary school with dyscalculia may have trouble learning and retrieving basic arithmetic facts. High school students, though, might have mastered math facts but cannot complete complex math problems with the lack of instruction. The different manifestations of dyscalculia suggest that this disability might have multiple sub-components with signs and symptoms of their own7. The treatment of dyscalculia, like that of other SLDs, requires special expertise. Some effective strategies used in the treatment of dyscalculia include repeated practice and instructions conveying strategy rather than passive fact-based teaching8. DyslexiaDyslexia is characterized by reading difficulty, and like other types of specific learning disabilities, cannot be explained by factors like schooling, general intelligence, and motivation. Dyslexia affects 15% of the student population resulting in 6.5 million children requiring special education in 20029. Traditionally dyslexia was viewed as a disorder related to faulty processing of the basic sounds that comprise language10. However, recent research suggests that the core deficit causing difficulties in reading might be in the visual system, specifically the attentional component11. Effective interventions for dyslexia target several aspects of basic reading skills, including understanding letter-sound correspondence, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency skills12. The goal with these interventions is to get the individuals with dyslexia to develop the skills needed to read both words that they have encountered before and those they haven’t. Encouragingly, studies have shown that using evidence-based interventions can help to improve and even prevent reading difficulties in younger children13. DysgraphiaDysgraphia is a specific learning disability in which a person has writing skills below that expected for their age and/or cognitive ability. Dysgraphia might occur on its own or with other learning disabilities14. Prompt identification and diagnosis of dysgraphia can help with the management of the condition. In addition to having difficulties understanding the meaning of words, individuals with this disorder also have trouble decoding the difference between sentences that have the same words but in a different sequence, such as “my child hugs my friend” and “my friend hugs my child”. Specific learning disability causesSpecific learning disabilities are primarily brain-based disorders due to atypical brain development15. Genetics plays a large role in neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning disabilities16. SLD can also be acquired after birth due to traumatic brain injury17 caused by incidences such as car accidents or falls. Special note about depressionDepression is not a cause of a specific learning disability. However, the presence of depression can sometimes be mistaken as a specific learning problem18. Signs of Specific Learning DisabilityReading the signs list of specific learning disabilities can be confusing to parents of children who exhibit some symptoms because all children show some of these signs at some stage of their schooling or the other. For an individual to be diagnosed as having a specific learning disability, they must show a cluster of symptoms that do not disappear with time. Some of the most frequently encountered symptoms include19
Educational ChallengesSpecific learning disabilities come with many social and behavioral challenges aside from the learning difficulties inherent to the disability. For instance, students with a learning disability might feel out of place at school, making them more likely to skip classes. They might also engage in negative behavior at school, like acting out when asked a question that is difficult for them to answer. Students with SLD are also more likely to be bullied at school20. Taken together, all these difficulties at school make students with SLD much more likely to drop out of school than children without disabilities21. Specific learning disability treatmentWhile there might not be a cure for specific learning disabilities, early identification and diagnosis can help children cope. If a scientific, research-based intervention is provided early, the likelihood of success in school can increase22. The core approach to treating SLD involves a comprehensive evaluation of the student’s strengths and weaknesses. Then teach them how to use their strengths to overcome their weak areas23. In some cases, speech and language therapy can help, as can medication that can enhance attention levels. Final thoughts on Specific Learning DisabilityPeople with a specific learning disability often report feeling less than at school due to their challenges. Identifying the signs and addressing them early can be life-changing for children with special needs24. With the right professional help, children with SLD can achieve high levels of success. References
Which type of learning disability involves difficulty in math computation?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.
What is the name of the math learning disability?Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that affects an individual's ability to do basic arithmetic such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
Is dyslexia a math disability?Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties in learning to read whereas dyscalculia is characterized by difficulties in acquiring mathematical concepts (e.g., time tables, counting) and in performing arithmetic calculations (ref.
What is dysgraphia learning disability?Dysgraphia is a neurological condition and learning difference in which someone has difficulty with writing for their age level. This can range from issues with the physical act of writing to issues with translating thoughts into written words.
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