General Information

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects the ability to learn arithmetic and mathematics in someone of normal intelligence, as compared with those of the same age who receive identical instruction. It may cause difficulty with counting, measuring quantity, working memory for numbers, sequential memory, ability to recognize patterns, time perception, telling time, sense of direction, and mental retrieval of mathematical facts and procedures. Dyscalculia is a lifelong condition that can hinder academic progress and self-esteem; however, it can be managed with treatment, especially that which is initiated in early childhood.

Dyscalculia may also be referred to as “math learning disability,” “developmental dyscalculia," “acalculia” (if it is acquired later in life), “math anxiety,” “math dyslexia,” or “numerical impairment." In the DSM-5, it is typically classified as "specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics."

Symptoms

Dyscalculia typically first presents in childhood, though it may go undiagnosed until adulthood. Symptoms can include:

• difficulty adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing numbers, or getting inconsistent results when doing so

• problems understanding the rules of math or memorizing mathematical facts and formulas

• trouble identifying which quantity is largest or smallest

• difficulty reading analog clocks

• challenges performing mental math

• a persistent need to count on one’s fingers after peers have ceased to do so

• trouble with money-related tasks such as making change, calculating tips, or estimating sale prices

• difficulty estimating values like speed, time, or distance

• difficulty telling right from left or orienting oneself in space

• frequent lateness or poor time management

These symptoms, along with someone’s general ability to understand math concepts, may appear inconsistent; an individual with dyscalculia may seem able to perform calculations one day but then forget how to do so on a test the following day. Other, subtler symptoms—such as difficulty remembering names or associating faces with names—may also be present.

More broadly, someone with dyscalculia may appear absent-minded, with a tendency to get lost, lose things, lose track of time, or easily become disoriented; because of this, it is possible for them to be diagnosed with ADHD rather than dyscalculia. Dyscalculia can also trigger feelings of anxiety or poor self-esteem. A child may, for example, become anxious at the thought of doing math, make an effort to avoid activities that require it, or label themselves as “stupid” because they struggle to keep up with their peers.

How Common Is Dyscalculia?

The prevalence of dyscalculia is not well-documented. However, most estimates suggest that between 5 and 10 percent of schoolchildren meet the criteria for dyscalculia.

How is Dyscalculia Diagnosed??

There is no single test for dyscalculia. The disorder is typically diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation that tests specific math skills and general cognitive abilities; reviews family history, standardized test scores, and past academic performance; and rules out other, related disorders, such as generalized anxiety or ADHD.

This section taken from Psychology Today, edited by PT staff.