DYSCALCULIA: A MATH DYSLEXIA?

Dyscalculia:

A Math Dyslexia?

Julie Anne Miranda Marcelo

e3 Civic High
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Abstract

Mathematics is strenuous for nearly every student, however, there are a several individuals that

experience this challenge in an even worse level. These students are affected by a learning

disability that can make it difficult for them to comprehend numbers and understand math

concepts called Dyscalculia. Dyscalculia can also affect a persons self-confidence. As well as

being diagnosed with a co-occurring learning disability such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia, or Math Anxiety. Although there is no known cure for Dyscalculia,

there are treatments that can help an individual with Dyscalculia make math less complicated.

Keywords: Dyscalculia, Dyscalculic, Dyslexia, Math Anxiety, Attention Deficit

Hyperactivity Disorder,

Dyscalculia: Math Dyslexia?

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Math holds an important part in life. It is essential to accomplish numerous daily duties,

such as counting money, looking at a clock, or even reading an odometer. Almost every job uses

some form of math. Examples include: astronomers, nurses, engineers, pharmacist, biochemist,

etc. Math is also useful for strategic board games like chess. Having knowledge in statistics,

probability, and geometry can help with sports. Math is required and somehow will be involved

in life in either the simplest way possible or the hardest. However, some people do not possess

the ability to perform these daily activities that require math. Line Rothmann, a graduate from

the creative business and design school Kaospilot, is diagnosed with Dyscalculia. Dyscalculia is

a mathematical learning disability that causes an individual to struggle to understand the

meaning of numbers and dont have the ability to grasp math concepts (Fournier, 2016).

Rothmann is unable to tell time, she states: I have absolutely no sense of time, how fast it goes,

how slow it goes, if it goes (2015). This proves that the world would be confused without

numbers as it would without letters.

Dyscalculia affects an estimated six to seven percent of children in elementary school

(Judd, 2012, p. 159). It is often referred as Math Dyslexia by many kids and parents.

Although researchers are unsure of the exact cause of Dyscalculia, they have pinpointed specific

evidence that it is a brain-based condition. According to WebMD, Dyscalculia can be passed

down from genes. It is more likely for a child to be affected with Dyscalculia if their parents had

it. Dyscalculia has also been connected to alcohol consumption while a mother is pregnant.

Researchers are also studying the brains of people by comparing people who have and dont have

math disabilities (Morin). The study showed areas of the brain that were associated with learning

and memory, doing a task and remembering math skills to have difference in the thickness,

volume and surface area of peoples brains. With their findings, researchers are trying to identify
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if they are able to rewire the brain to make math simpler. Some of the possible symptoms of

Dyscalculia includes poor apprehension of math symbols, has trouble with counting,

memorizing and organizing numbers, or have struggles with telling time (Literary and Clinical

Services, 2014). Dyscalculia can also lower their self-esteem and lead to anxiety, but parents are

able to find ways to work around their childs weaknesses by recognizing their strengths. There

are many ways to treat Dyscalculia. Treatments include therapy and alternative teaching

methods. A treatment that works for one person may not work for another so trying different

treatments may help.

Solutions

Education, Speech, and Occupational Therapy

Although Dyscalculia is incurable, one approach to solving this problem would be to

undergo in different types of therapy. Some types include: education therapy, speech therapy, or

occupational therapy. Educational therapy helps children with different types of learning

disabilities find ways for working around their problems (Brooks, 2016). This could benefit a

child who has Dyscalculia get better at working with numbers. Children with Dyscalculia also

have a difficult time fluently reading math. A way of treating this is speech therapy. Speech

therapist are able to help kids with speech disabilities by having one-on-one sessions with

children. (Crenshaw, 2015). Children also have trouble with telling distances between objects.

Exploring occupational therapy would help with visual-spatial skills by addressing fine motor

skills, gross motor skills, and cognitive skills such as organizing objects (Patino, 2014). Children

with Dyscalculia may also be dealing with issues that come with Dyscalculia such as, Attention

Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or anxiety so trying therapy that focuses with ADHD

can help. Also, no medication is available to treat Dyscalculia. However, co-occurring issues like
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depression, anxiety and ADHD have medications that could be part of the Dyscalculia treatment

plan. These therapies will help make it easier for a child who has Dyscalculia to perform in class

and the better he/she will work with adversities.

Alternative Teaching Methods

Another working treatment for children who have Dyscalculia are alternative teaching

methods. Dyscalculia makes math complicated to master, but it influences more than just school.

It can also lead to a decrease of their self-esteem. In other words, having Dyscalculia can cause a

kid to question their capabilities in different areas. A child with Dyscalculia cannot learn on their

own, they need to receive extra support as soon as possible. If done well, this could strengthen

his/her confidence. One possibility to help make math a little less challenging for a Dyscalculic

is playing math games (Rutherford, 2015). It is easier to learn when one is calm and enjoying

themselves. Using household objects like fruits, a pair of socks, or toys can associate numbers to

everyday activities. These games are designed to be enjoyable, a Dyscalculic may be a less likely

to fret about making mistakes and help them grow a more favorable perspective on math.

Another method that can help is creating an area that does not have any interruptions. Also, you

can help by making his/her work into small intervals. For example, doing three questions at a

time and then after a short break doing the next three and so on. Lastly, acknowledging your

childs strengths can be utilize to work around their weaknesses. Praising your childs efforts

when they do something well can boost their confidence and make them feel supported (Morin).

It will give them the will to work harder and stay motivated leading to the increase of their

resilience.

Limitations

Dyscalculia vs. Dyslexia

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Research made on Dyscalculia is minimal, making it complicated and complex to

diagnose than other well known learning issues like Dyslexia. It is often confused with other

certain conditions since it has some of the same symptoms of other learning disabilities. A

learning condition that is frequently confused with Dyscalculia is Dyslexia, a condition that

makes it challenging for people to read. A research from the issue of Science found that an

estimated five to seven percent of the population, similar to the percentage of its little-known

relative, Dyscalculia (Butterworth, Varma, Laurillard, 2011). Dyscalculics are often diagnosed

with a co-existing condition, and this can be Dyslexia. Researchers have found that 43-65

percent of kids with math disabilities also have reading disabilities (Morin). Because of this

reason, some people are often diagnosed with Dyscalculia late making it harder for them to learn

math. To put it another way, others only get diagnosed with one of the conditions before they get

diagnosed with Dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia vs. Math Anxiety

It is also confused with Math Anxiety, a feeling of stress and fear that constrains ones

math abilities (Robson, 2015). Both Math Anxiety and Dyscalculia can influence math

performances. The difference is that Math Anxiety can make a person worry that they will do

badly on a math test, even though they have studied and understand the concept. On the other

hand, a Dyscalculic expects to do poorly on a math test because he does not understand the

concept. Doing math with dyscalculia is like hiking with a sprained ankle. Doing math with

math anxiety is like being a physically able hiker who worries about what might happen if he

tries to climb the peak (The Understood Team).

Recommendation
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Plenty of vicissitudes stand in the way of mitigating a persons Dyscalculia, however, it is

pivotal to take action as soon as possible before it worsens. Some working treatments that a

Dyscalculic can try are different types of therapies and alternative teaching methods. These

therapies include: Educational, Speech, and Occupational Therapy. Trying different alternative

teaching methods that suits a persons Dyscalculia and therapy go hand in hand, making it speed

up the process a bit. With available treatments such as therapy and helpful alternative teaching

methods, it will slowly help them with learning math and boost their self-esteem.
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References

Brooks, R. (2016). What is an Educational Therapist? Retrieved March 09, 2017, from

http://nild.org/educational-therapist/

Butterworth, B., Varma, S., & Laurillard, D. (2011, May 27). Dyscalculia: From Brain to

Education. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/332/6033/1049

Crenshaw, B. (Ed.). (2015, March). Speech-Language Therapy. Retrieved March 09, 2017,

from http://kidshealth.org/en/parents/speech-therapy.html

Judd, S. (2012). Learning Disabilities Sourcebook. Detroit, MI.

Literary and Clinical Services. (2014). What is Dyscalculia?. Retrieved March 09, 2017,

from https://dsf.net.au/what-is-dyscalculia/

Morin, A. (n.d.). Inside the Brain: What MRIs Are Teaching Us. Retrieved March 07, 2017,

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need-to-know/inside-the-brain-what-mris-are-teaching-us

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successes/ways-praise-can-empower-kids-learning-issues

Oencyclopedia, Fournier, G. (2016, July 17). Dyscalculia. Psych Central. Retrieved

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Patino, E. (2014). What You Need to Know About Occupational Therapy. Retrieved March

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Robson, D. (2015, June 19). BBC - Future - Do you have 'maths anxiety'? Retrieved March

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Rothmann, L. (2015, June 11). My World Without Numbers. Retrieved February 24, 2017,

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Games_/

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