Dyscalculia terms a range of learning disabilities involving math. According to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University, dyscalculia is a lesser-known learning disability that can affect a person with any degree of mathematics difficulty. The underlying causes of the disability involve problems with visually processing math numbers and situations, as well as difficulty with sequencing information in an organized manner. Dyscalculia is a life-long condition that can be treated with special education services steered by initially identifying the strengths and weaknesses of a student to help them achieve academic success.
Difficulties at School
Dyscalculia can be recognized early on in a child's education as they present with setbacks in math class. With this learning disability, kids can be slow to learn counting and have problems early on with basic math skills such as addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. Memorizing or grasping concepts of math, rules, proper sequencing, or formulas is challenging for someone with dyscalculia. The Eberly College of Arts and Sciences also lists symptoms such as difficulty with mathematical word problems, troubles using a calculator, doing operations backward and making mistakes when reading, writing, or recalling numbers.
Problems Outside of the Class
For an individual with dyscalculia, math problems can affect aspects of life outside the classroom. The inability to approximate time can cause them to be chronically late, and a poor sense of direction can cause them to get easily lost and confused, according to the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Dyscalculia also can causes troubles with personal finance due to poor abilities with handling cash, credit and calculation of change, tips or taxes. Keeping score, or remembering whose turn it is during games can be challenging, and there is often a considerable lack of strategy skills, which are needed for games such as chess. Other symptoms include facing obstacles regarding music education and athletic coordination.
Positive Characteristics
Although mathematical skills are an impediment, those with dyscalculia often excel in other areas, particularly linguistics. The ability for spoken language, writing and reading materials other than math is not affected by the learning disability. Although memory fails when it comes to numbers, remembering printed words is not difficult at all for these individuals. Perhaps calculus is not a forte of a person with dyscalculia, but science, geometry and the creative arts are areas where their talents can definitely unravel.
