Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia

• What is Dyscalculia?
• What are the causes?
• What are the characteristics?
• How is it Identified?
• What are some teaching strategies

Just as prevalent as dyslexia and ADHD, but NIH between 2000 and 2011 spent $107.2 million on dyslexia research and only $2.3 million on dyscalculia (Butterworth, Varma, & Laurillard, 2011)

What is Dyscalculia?

• Specific Learning Disability in Mathematics (SLD-Math)
• Math Learning Disability (MLD)
• Developmental Dyscalculia (DD)
• Acalculia
• Gertsmann's Syndrome
• Math Dyslexia

Hard to Define

• NCLD - Dyscalculia is a specific learning disability in math, children with dyscalculia have difficulty understanding number-related concepts or using symbols or functions needed for success in mathematics

Hard to Define

• DSM-5 - Dyscalculia is a term used to describe difficulties learning math facts and performing math calculations. Problems with math can include difficulties with number sense, memorizing math facts, math calculations or math reasoning/problem solving (Parekh, 2016)

Possible Causes

• Genes & Heredity
• Environmental factors
• Brain Development
• Brain Injury

Characteristics

• An Estimated 5%-7% of all students have dyscalculia (Butterworth, et al., 2011)
• No conclusive evidence to suggest it as more prevalent in either gender
• Students are of average or above average intelligence and generally succeed in other academic and social areas

Students with Dyscalculia

• Often do not understand quantities and concepts, skills known as number sense
• Have difficulty with math mechanics
• Struggle with working memory
• Become more apparent with age

Co-OCCURRING issues

• Dyslexia
• ADHD
• Executive functioning issues
• Math Anxiety

Identification

• Under IDEA dyscalculia is a specific learning disability
• General educator is usually first to observe symptoms
• Most commonly identified by low standardized test scores in math
• Once identified need to be evaluated

Teaching Strategies

• Specialized instruction
• Multisensory instruction
• Personalized Learning
• Graphic Organizers
• Teach using games

Assistive Technology

• Use of a calculator
• The Number Race
• Graphogame-math
• Use of the Smartboard

Can you think of any at home activities that might assist these students? (like baking)

Additional Resources

References

• Ansari, D, Ph.D. (2014). Understanding Dyscalculia [website]. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disa...

References

• Butterworth, B., Varma, S., & Laurillard, D. (2011). Dyscalculia: From brain to education. Science, 332(6033), 1049-1053. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1201536

References

• National Center for Learning Disabilities. (2017). State of Learning Disabilities: Understanding the 1 in 5 [website]. Retrieved from http://www.ncld.org/executive-summary

References

• Parekh, R, M.D., M.P.H. (2016). What is a Specific Learning Disorder [website]. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/specific-learning-disorder/wha...

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Dyscalculia