HOUSTON – Many parents across America may share the struggle of having a child who’s “bad at math.” If your child avoids math homework like vegetables, brings home an “F” on every math test, and tutoring doesn’t seem to help much, there’s a good chance they could be suffering from dyscalculia.
KPRC 2’s Rogani Odems spoke with a dyscalculia specialist to explain the disability and help your child become successful in math during the new school year.
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What is dyscalculia?
In short, dyscalculia is a math disability akin to dyslexia. Dyscalculia.org describes it as a collection of characteristics that are marked by underachievement in math in spite of good ability in speaking, reading, and writing.
Houston-area dyscalculia specialist Dr. Anneke M. Schreuder, founder of Dyscalculia Services, says that the problem starts in the brain.
“There are three main centers in the brain. One of them is the basic number sense center. For students who have dyscalculia, the basic number sense center is not active, or connected, yet to other centers in the brain,” Schreuder said.
This disconnection makes it difficult for people with dyscalculia to comprehend even the smallest number sets. People with dyscalculia also exert more effort and need more time to process situations involving numbers.
But Dr. Schreuder stresses that students with dyscalculia aren’t misbehaving or not paying attention but just need the right assistance to navigate math.
What are the symptoms of dyscalculia?
The following are hallmark signs of dyscalculia:
- Trouble remembering math concepts.
- Anxiety during math class or homework time.
- Unable to keep score while playing sports or board games.
- Difficulty doing mental math (using fingers to count).
- Inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Struggling to tell time using an analog clock and having difficulty understanding directions (left, right, N, S, E, W) are little-known signs of the math disability, Dr. Schreuder said.
Other signs include not remembering which shoe belongs on what foot, struggling to mirror the teacher during dance class, or having trouble learning how to count music.
How can I help my child?
Early intervention is imperative, as dyscalculia is a learning disability that extends beyond the classroom and childhood.
Adults with dyscalculia have trouble driving, managing finances, making it to events on time, and calculating tips at restaurants.
If you’re concerned that your child is struggling with math, Dr. Schreuder suggests that parents request an evaluation from their child’s school.
Follow these steps for more information on requesting an evaluation:
- Visit the official Learning Disabilities Association of Texas website.
- Once you’re there, roll over “LD Information,” located at the top of the screen.
- Click on the “Sample Letter for Request for an Evaluation” on the drop-down menu.
Parents can also help students at home by using colorful objects like math and Legos to take a more visual approach to learning math.
What are schools doing to help students with dyscalculia?
Per the Learning Disabilities Association of America, about 4-7% students, or one to two students per class, have dyscalculia.
Dr. Schreuder, who’s tutored people with dyscalculia for more than 15 years, says that dyscalculia is overlooked in public schools.
“Teachers want their students to succeed. But they do not always have the proper training, enough time, or sufficient resources to help these students in a way that’s effective,” Dr. Schreuder said.
Dr. Schreuder states that traditional math and after-school tutoring are typically ineffective in helping students with dyscalculia. These sessions simply repeat what was taught in class rather than addressing the problem with tailored assistance.
She shared the following advice for parents:
- Establish communication with your child’s teacher.
- Never take “no” for an answer; ask your child’s school if there are math disability specialists available. If there are no specialists, ask if the district is willing to provide teacher and staff development.
- Look for outside tutors who specialize in math disabilities.