What is Dyscalculia?

- Dyscalculia primarily affects the learning process in relation to mathematics.

- Dyscalculia has a varying levels of severity and can affect different areas of mathematical calculations.

- These difficulties can have an adverse effect on many day-to-day activities such as dealing with finances, following directions, managing a diary and keeping track of time.

- It is estimated that between 4% and 6% of the population have dyscalculia.

What Difficulties might be Experienced by a Student with Dyscalculia?

- Students with dyscalculia often experience difficulties with even basic mathematical or numerical tasks and processes such as adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing.

- Students may also have difficulty knowing which mathematical process should be employed based on context or the mathematical problem.

- Other difficulties can include telling the time using an analogue watch or clock, handling money or calculating change in a shop.

- Other symptoms of dyscalculia may be noted in difficulty keeping scores during Physical Education and problems keeping track of whose turn it is during games.

- Transitioning between classes, particularly at post-primary level may also be difficult.

- There is a high incidence of co-diagnosis of dyslexia with dyscalculia, which may lead to greater difficulties for the student.

- Students with dyscalculia may also have a poor sense of direction, display a tendency to lose things and may seem absent minded.

- Students may have difficulties in grasping concepts of music education such as reading music.

- Students with dyscalculia will often suffer from a lack of confidence or low self-esteem with math as a result of previous experiences with trying to study math.