Math Learning Disability

Individuals with learning disabilities often need extra learning support.

Educational experts often refer to learning disabilities in math as dyscalculia. There is no one form of math disability, and learning difficulties in math can vary widely between individuals. Parents and educators should know the warning signs of this type of learning difference because early assessment and intervention is vital to a student's success in math.

Identification

The identification of a math disability is usually completed by a qualified educational psychologist. An evaluation for a math disability will compare a student's expected ability level with his actual skill levels. Skills include counting, problem solving, organizing objects and measurement.

Effects

Math disabilities typically cause difficulty with problem solving, counting, computation and difficulty reading numbers or telling time. Many times students with math disabilities have strong skills in reading, speaking and writing, but their math abilities do not to the same level or at the same rate.

Considerations

Math disabilities do not necessarily cause an inability to do math. Students may have strengths and weakness within math topics. For instance, a student may have poor recall of numbers or math facts, but they may have stronger skills when working with written facts that do not require memorization.

Misconceptions

A common misconception is that individuals with learning disabilities are not as intelligent as non-disabled learners. The reality is that many individuals with math disabilities have average to above-average abilities in other academic areas, such as reading, writing and speaking. A math disability is not an indicator of overall intelligence.

Expert Insight

Experts on learning disabilities suggest that identifying strengths and weaknesses in math is vital to academic success. Once a student's strengths and weaknesses are identified, teachers and parents will have a much clearer idea of how the student learns. Teachers and tutors can help students by using concrete teaching strategies before presenting more abstract ideas. Students may need extra time and additional tutoring support.

References

• LD Online: Dyscalculia
• National Center for Learning Disabilities: Math Disabilities

Resources

• Learning Disabilities Association of America: Dyscalculia
• Learning Disabilities Association of California: Suggested Resources for Parents