Dyscalculia Archives - Solve Learning Disabilities

Does your child have Dyscalculia? It is not a simple test to take. We aren’t big on labels anyway. We ARE big on finding interventions that can help them improve neurologically, and thus improve or reverse the problem. There are simple tests and exercises that can strengthen the functions of the brain and help the different areas of the brain communicate better. We will discuss that more below.

Some children memorize so well that the Dyscalculia becomes more evident when they start doing math that requires more than memorization. But, if a child has a memorization problem too, the dyscalculia is evident early on. Click here for a list of Dyscalculia Symptoms.

In recent studies, it was found that lack of communication between the right and left half (hemisphere) of the brain was a big issue with children suffering from dyscalculia. This lack of communication between the two hemispheres can be attributed to lower cognitive function on one or both sides. Math needs good communication between both sides of the brain. Basic math is handled mostly in the left hemisphere and number cognition is mostly processed by the right hemisphere. As luck would have it, math problems require both. Is it any wonder they would struggle if the two hemispheresare not communicating well with each other?

Dyscalculia is diagnosed mostly by symptoms. It’s characterized by difficulty in basic math. The child may have good memorization skills that allow them to memorize 2+2=4. But, they do not understand the concept behind it. They cannot connect the number symbol’s meaning, to the world around them.

Dyscalculia

“What does the symbol ‘6’ and a picture of some apples have to do with each other?”

Then it gets more complicated…

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They are often very pictorial children. They just can’t make the connection.

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There are plenty of math practice sheets online, so we won’t duplicate that here. They are great, but dyscalculia needs more than practice, practice, practice. Let’s find the weaker areas of the brain that are causing the dyscalculia and strengthen them through cognitive and motor exercises. Once functions are stronger, there are exercises that help the two halves start to work together. Brains can rewire. Neurologists say ‘neurons that fire together, wire together’. Let’s get them firing together.

Many children struggle with learning mathematics in school, but they may reach a point that makes you question if they are struggling more than usual. Dyscalculia is less common than most disabilities, but can cover a wide range of difficulties in math that can lead to great frustration in your child. As your child ages, these symptoms may change as their mathematical curriculum and experience changes. Below is a list of common Dyscalculia symptoms. Click here to read more about Dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia Symptoms

Delay in counting
Anxiety and negativity towards math
Delay in using counting strategies
Has trouble sorting things
Struggles memorizing simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication facts
Difficulty imagining a mental number line
Struggles decomposing numbers (realizing that 5 and 5 go into 10)
Poor memory when it comes to remembering things with numbers in them (like a phone number)
Show less understanding of basic math and counting skills than peers
Struggles to understand place value
Struggles to realize that numbers can apply to objects and aren’t specific to one object or thing (2 cats, 2 toys, 2 eyes, etc)
Avoids playing games that may involve math
Difficulty having a fairly accurate sense of time
Difficulty connecting numbers to real life situations
Difficulty recognizing patterns in sequences or numbers
Struggles to memorize math facts
Difficulty recognizing number symbols (struggles to understand 9 is also nine)
Doesn’t connect math to groups of things
As peers advance, the child looses self confidence

Symptoms can vary from person to person and no two children are the same, so your child may also display different symptoms than the ones listed above. Despite your child’s diagnosis, these interventions can be helpful. You should consult a professional if you suspect your child has Dyscalculia. Support and academic assistance is important to ensure your child stays on track with their mathematical studies.

Click here to read more about Dyscalculia