Dyscalculia
Before you read the webpage please read the following notes:
NOTE 1 – We are giving you an overview of this condition in a question and answer format so you have some information for when you talk to a health professional. We have not discussed how to diagnose this condition, the types of treatment available for this condition and how you as the parent can help your child. We will leave that for a professional to discuss with you when a healthcare plan or special educational needs plan is being written for your child once they have been diagnosed.
NOTE 2 – Children can suffer from more than one condition at any one time. This is known as comorbid
NOTE 3 – The exact cause of many of the conditions we have written about is unknown. Research is continuing. There can often be a genetic component which when inherited can make an individual prone to the condition. There are also other factors which can play a part in the development of the condition and can trigger it. We have detailed these factors in each write up.
NOTE 4 – Education for children with special education needs and disabilities is written elsewhere on this website. Please click the link below to access it.
WHAT IS DYSCALCULIA?
Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty with regards to mathematics. A child with dyscalculia has issues with the neural pathways and connections that process numbers.
Children with dyscalculia are regarded as children with special educational needs.
WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES A CHILD WITH DYSCALCULIA DISPLAY?
Some of the symptoms a child with dyscalculia may show are:
- Anxiety at the thought of studying maths.
- Difficulty learning how to count
- Writing numbers in reverse
- Unable to sequence numbers
- They cannot understand graphs
- Difficulty solving mathematical equations
- Very slow at basic maths
- Confusion between numbers and signs
- Difficulty understanding simple number concepts.
- Problems learning number facts.
- Problems with counting backwards
- Difficulty with mental arithmetic, estimating, place values, and general maths.
- A child with this condition will be below their age level for maths.
ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE DYSCALCULIA BORN WITH IT OR IS IT ACQUIRED?
The exact cause of dyscalculia is unknown however, scientists believe there is a genetic link so it can be inherited. Therefore children are born with it. It is also believed that premature babies and babies with low birth weight can develop the condition.
Dyscalculia can also be acquired later in life due to a brain/head injury, a stroke or a progressive disease. This is called acalculia.
WHEN DO MOST CHILDREN FIRST DISPLAY THE SIGNS OF DYSCALCULIA?
Children between 6 years and 9 years of age start showing the symptoms of dyscalculia.
CAN DYSCALCULIA GO AWAY, BE CURED OR PREVENTED?
Dyscalculia once diagnosed can be managed and controlled with treatment. It cannot be cured. It cannot also be prevented.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DYSCALCULIA?
Below are the main different types of dyscalculia:
1. Verbal dyscalculia – Children with this disorder can read or write maths but have problems understanding maths explained verbally.
2. Practognostic dyscalculia – These children can understand maths but have difficulty translating it so they cannot manipulate equations.
3. Lexical dyscalculia – These children can understand spoken maths but have difficulty reading maths numbers and symbols.
4. Graphical dyscalculia – These children have difficulty writing maths numbers and symbols.
5. Ideognostical dyscalculia – These children find it difficult to remember mathematical concepts after learning them.
6. Operational dyscalculia – These children understand numbers but find it difficult manipulating them in calculations.
WHO DO YOUR CONTACT FOR HELP IF YOU FEEL YOUR CHILD HAS DYSCALCULIA?
Contact your GP immediately – Your GP will arrange for your child to be assessed for dyscalculia. Your GP will then arrange for your child to have the correct support, medication, therapy and treatment to manage the condition. They will also inform you of any lifestyle changes you may need to make and refer you for further help if you need it.
Contact the school SEN department – The SEN department (special educational needs) at school will take your concerns seriously and help you. Please read the next section below.
IS DYSCALCULIA CONSIDERED A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEED (SEN)?
A child suffering from dyscalculia can be considered as one with special educational needs (SEN) if the issues the child is suffering from make education and learning much more difficult than other children of the same age.
Talk to the SEN department at your child’s school. There will be a special teacher there called a SENCO (special SEN coordinator) who looks after the welfare of all SEN children at the school and they will be able to advise you further.
WHERE CAN YOU AS A PARENT TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
You can contact NSPCC – If your child has dyscalculia you can contact the NSPCC and speak to them about your concerns. If the child is in danger they will call the police.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR NSPCC – CONTACT US
You can contact FAMILY LIVES – Family lives was previously known as parentline. You can speak to them about your concerns that your child has dyscalculia.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR FAMILY LIVES – CONTACT US
You can contact SUPPORTLINE – Supportline can provide confidential emotional support over the phone about your concerns if your child has dyscalculia. Their helpline number is 01708 765 200. You can also email them
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR SUPPORTLINE – CONTACT US
You can contact your local authority child services – You can call them directly or look on their website to see if there are any local support groups where you can get support.
LINK TO GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO FIND YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY
You can contact other organisations –
LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE 16 – CONNECT WITH CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS THAT COULD HELP YOU.
WHERE CAN YOUR CHILD TALK, GET HELP AND ADVICE?
Your child can contact CHILDLINE – If your child has dyscalculia and they need to talk to someone, they can call childline.