What is dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand number-based information and math. People who have dyscalculia struggle with numbers and math because their brains don’t process math-related concepts like the brains of people without this disorder. However, their struggles don’t mean they’re less intelligent or less capable than people who don’t have dyscalculia.
The symptoms of this disorder usually appear in childhood, especially when children learn how to do basic math. However, many adults have dyscalculia and don’t know it. People who have dyscalculia often face mental health issues when they have to do math, such as anxiety, depression and other difficult feelings.
There’s also a form of dyscalculia that appears later in life. This form, acquired dyscalculia, can happen at any age. This usually happens for other reasons like a medical condition (see more about this under the Causes and Symptoms section below).
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What is the difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia?
Dyslexia and dyscalculia are both learning disorders, but they have key differences. In the most general terms, these two break down as follows:
- Dyscalculia: This learning disorder affects a person’s ability to do math.
- Dyslexia: This learning disorder affects a person’s ability to read.
While they’re different, the two conditions fall under the same diagnosis, “Specific learning disorder,” in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). It’s also possible for people to have both dyscalculia and dyslexia.
Who does dyscalculia affect?
Dyscalculia can happen to anyone, but it’s common for it first to draw attention when children are in their first few years of elementary school (between ages 6 and 9).
How common is dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is uncommon but widespread. Experts estimate it affects between 3% and 7% of people worldwide.
How does dyscalculia affect my brain?
People who have dyscalculia are neurodivergent. 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. For people with dyscalculia, that means their brain works differently from the brain of someone who doesn’t have disorders or conditions that affect how their brain works.
Solving a math problem like “2+2=?” might seem simple, but it takes several different skills — and the areas of the brain that manage them — working together to do it. Some of those include:
- Visual processing: Your eyes see the entirety of the math problem and send the components back to your brain for processing.
- Short-term memory: You use your short-term memory to hold onto the specifics of the math problem as you work on it. For example, the number amounts, the symbols and the order in which they appear.
- Language: You use this part of your brain to translate the symbols in the math problem into what those symbols mean. That’s how you know what the plus sign, equal sign and question mark mean in this context.
- Long-term memory: You access this kind of memory to remember the process of how to solve a math problem. In this case, your brain identifies that this is an addition problem based on the plus sign and the equals sign.
- Understanding of quantities and amounts: Your brain translates the symbol “2” into the understanding that it represents a specific amount or quantity. Children usually learn this principle by giving them examples like fruits or animals.
- Calculation: This process unites all of the above, helping you solve that 2+2=4.
For a neurotypical person, the above processes all work as expected. Depending on how severe their case is, people with dyscalculia may struggle with certain parts of the process.
FAQs
Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person's ability to understand number-based information and math. People who have dyscalculia struggle with numbers and math because their brains don't process math-related concepts like the brains of people without this disorder.
What is the main cause of dyscalculia? ›
Researchers don't know exactly what causes dyscalculia. 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.
What are the symptoms of dyscalculia? ›
Symptoms of dyscalculia
- trouble processing numbers and measuring quantities, beginning in preschool.
- difficulty understanding the association between a number (e.g., 3) and the quantity it represents (e.g., 3 carrots)
- trouble telling time on a clock.
- a hard time counting, comparing numbers or amounts.
There are many ways to help kids with dyscalculia build math skills. Kids with dyscalculia can benefit from specialized instruction, especially in grade school. There are no medications that treat dyscalculia, but medication could help kids deal with co-occurring issues like ADHD or anxiety.
How does dyscalculia affect a person's life? ›
The disorder presents itself in a range of ways, including an inability to memorize number-based facts, difficulty understanding the logical steps needed to solve a math problem and aversion to completing numerical daily tasks like telling time, scheduling appointments or calculating finances.
What are people with dyscalculia good at? ›
Skills and strengths
Innovative problem solving and trouble shooting; Creative, intuitive and lateral thinking; Stronger in the areas of art, music, design, architecture and engineering; Seeing the bigger picture – strategic thinking and holistic approach.
What part of the brain is damaged in dyscalculia? ›
Particularly on the left side of the parietal lobe
left parietal lobe. However, acquired dyscalculia is also reported in cases of unilateral brain damage to the parietal lobe in the right hemisphere.
What are the red flags of dyscalculia? ›
1. Difficulties understanding graphs and charts 2. Persistent inability to memorize math facts: they cannot seem to recall number facts from memory (e.g., number bonds, timetables,) 3. Difficulties solving maths problems using alternative methods (e.g., 56 + 19 = (56+20)-1) 4.
What can be mistaken for dyscalculia? ›
Another condition called dyscalculia also arises when talking about dyslexia and dyspraxia. Often, the three conditions get confused for one another, which is why it is important to distinguish the differences.
What famous people have dyscalculia? ›
Celebrities with dyscalculia include:
- Robbie Williams – Singer.
- Cher – Singer.
- Henry Winkler – Actor Comedian Director and Producer.
- Mick Hucknall – Simply Red Singer.
- Mary Tyler Moore – Actress.
- Bill Gates – Philanthropist and Founder of Microsoft.
- Benjamin Franklin – A Founding Father of the United States of America.
For the dyscalculic student, math concepts are simply abstracts, and numbers mere marks on a page. Talking through a problem or writing it down in sentence form can help with seeing relationships between the elements. Even restating word problems in a new way can help with organizing information and seeing solutions.
What kind of doctor do you see for dyscalculia? ›
Educational psychologists are typically best equipped to assess a child for developmental dyscalculia, however no single diagnostic protocol exists.
Is dyscalculia a disability? ›
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability that affects a person's ability to acquire arithmetical skills. Research suggests that dyscalculia has varying levels of severity and can affect different areas of mathematics.
What are their struggles everyday people with dyscalculia? ›
People who have dyscalculia struggle with numbers and math because their brains don't process math-related concepts like the brains of people without this disorder. However, their struggles don't mean they're less intelligent or less capable than people who don't have dyscalculia.
How do you tell if you have dyscalculia? ›
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.
Can you live a normal life with dyscalculia? ›
Math skills and concepts are used everywhere from the kitchen to the playground to the workplace. It's understandable to be concerned about the long-term impact of dyscalculia. But once a person's weaknesses have been identified, one can find ways to work around them by building on the strengths.
Who is more likely to have dyscalculia? ›
Boys and girls are equally likely to have dyscalculia. It usually begins to show as soon as children start math classes in school. Dyscalculia is a specific learning disorder, which means it only affects how children learn math.
Can dyscalculia be caused by trauma? ›
A Specific Learning Disorder in Math is not caused by environmental factors like poor teaching, bad instructional materials, emotional trauma, or social forces that justify poor math achievement (girls are bad at math, I'm not a math brain). Causes of Dyscalculia.
What environmental factors cause dyscalculia? ›
Environment: Dyscalculia has been linked to exposure to alcohol in the womb. Prematurity and low birth weight may also play a role in dyscalculia. All of these may cause delayed brain development.
What are the three types of dyscalculia? ›
Verbal dyscalculia: the child has difficulty counting, memorizing and calculating. Dyscalculia in reading and writing Arabic numerals : the child has difficulty with the numerals themselves, both in writing and in reading. Number sense dyscalculia: the child does not understand the concept of number.
