Many children have difficulty with mathematics, but when these difficulties become persistent and severe, it may be an indication of a learning disorder known as dyscalculia.

What is dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a specific learning disorder that affects a child’s ability to understand numbers and perform mathematical operations. It is difficult for children with it to understand numerical concepts and link mathematical symbols to their corresponding words.

It may extend into daily life, causing difficulties with numeracy-based skills, such as managing money or estimating time and distances.

The prevalence of dyscalculia..
Estimates indicate that between 5% and 7% of children in primary school suffer from this disorder, which makes it a fairly common problem. Research indicates that dyscalculia affects males and females equally.

There are many other factors that may lead to difficulty with mathematics, such as dyslexia, visual or auditory processing problems, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children with dyscalculia may also suffer from other learning disorders, which increases the challenges they face.

Symptoms of dyscalculia..
Symptoms of dyscalculia can appear in the early stages of childhood. Signs that parents and teachers may notice include:

Difficulty recognizing numbers or learning to count.

Difficulty connecting written numbers (such as “5”) and their words (such as “five”).

Loss of the ability to keep count or arrange things logically.

Relying on visual tools such as fingers to help count.

As a child progresses through school, difficulties may increase, including:

Problems learning basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, and time tables.

Difficulty in solving textual mathematical problems or non-numeric arithmetic operations.

Inability to keep up with his colleagues in mathematics.

Difficulty understanding graphs and tables.

Influence outside the classroom..

According to the Child Mind Institute, the impact of dyscalculia may extend to daily life, as children affected by it suffer from:

Difficulty remembering important numbers such as postal codes or phone numbers.

Problems with money, such as counting money or calculating tips.

Difficulty estimating time or distances.

Loss of directions and difficulty distinguishing between right and left.

Frustration with games that rely on numbers or scoring points.

How is the diagnosis made?

There is no single specific test to diagnose dyscalculia. However, the following steps can be taken to obtain the necessary support:

Medical examination: Check for any health problems such as hearing or vision impairment.

Reviewing the child’s performance: Collaborating with the mathematics teacher to find out the special challenges the child faces.

Comprehensive assessment: Seek an educational specialist to conduct a full assessment of the child’s abilities and provide a customized support plan.

Message to parents and teachers..

If you notice a large gap between a child's performance in mathematics compared to other subjects, this may be an indication of dyscalculia. Although it is considered a chronic disorder, there are ways to improve a child's abilities in mathematics, which are:

Early intervention is key to ensuring that the child gets the support he needs.

Understanding and patience, along with cooperation with specialists, can make a big difference in a child’s educational and personal life.