If your child has significant challenges with math, they may suffer from dyscalculia. Dyscalculia can have many potential forms, but its presence can make math a challenging subject for both your child and you. Common signs of dyscalculia include the following:
Computational and Procedural
- Unable to recognize the proper steps needed to solve math problems
- Makes frequent errors in computation
- Does math problems at a slow pace
- Frequently makes careless mistakes while solving math problems
- Mixes up math signs while solving problems
Visual-Spatial
- Columns of numbers are unaligned
- Struggles to understand the size and location of numbers
- Unable to visually identify differing quantities
Verbal
- Unable to remember basic math facts
- Challenges with story problems
- Counting deficits
- Difficulty quickly identifying numbers
Attitude
- Actively avoids math
- Becomes anxious while working on math
- Has no interest in math
If you or others recognize a number of these symptoms in your child, an evaluation with a neuropsychologist can help determine whether your child has dyscalculia. Diagnosis is key to helping your child receive the help they need both in and out of school.
Reference:
Miller, D., & Maricle, D. (2019). Essentials of school neuropsychological assessment (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.