Dyscalculia in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
AMBULATORY CARE:
Dyscalculia
is a learning disability that causes problems with math. A learning disability means your child has trouble with an academic skill even though tests show he or she is intelligent.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Not being able to recognize printed numbers, or trouble imagining a number line
- Trouble learning to count, or only counting on his or her fingers
- Not understanding that a number represents quantity
- Anxiety about working on math problems or going to math class
- Trouble adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing single digit numbers
- Trouble telling time or using money
- Not knowing which steps to follow to solve a math problem
- No long-term memory of math skills, such as trouble memorizing multiplication tables
- Problems with shapes, such as being able to put a round object into a round hole
Manage your child's dyscalculia:
- Learning specialists such as tutors can teach your child in a way that makes sense to him or her. Children with dyscalculia often need to be taught in a way that uses many senses. For example, your child may need to have math problems read to him or her so he or she can hear the numbers. He or she may need to write the problem, or to use a different color for each part of the problem.
- An individualized education program (IEP) may be used through high school graduation. The IEP identifies your child's learning needs and helps his or her teachers understand how to help him or her learn. The IEP may help your child build skills he or she will need after high school. Your child may be able to use other accommodations in college to help him or her continue to succeed. Examples include use of a calculator or tests that are not timed.
Help support your child:
- Always encourage your child. Praise your child for trying to complete his or her math homework. Your child may become frustrated if he or she has many problems to solve. Math may be tiring for your child, and he or she may lose focus quickly. Encourage him or her to take short breaks but always come back to the homework and finish. Do not tell your child math is easy or that it should not take so long to finish. These types of comments may make your child feel anxious or ashamed about having trouble.
- Go through homework problems with your child. Have your child tell you the process he or she used to solve the problems. Give your child positive feedback on his or her thought process, even if the answer is wrong. Show your child where he or she made a mistake that led to the wrong answer. Let him or her correct the problem. You may feel frustrated if your child gets the wrong answer a few times in a row. Stay positive and give your child another chance to correct the problem. With practice, your child may learn to find the mistake himself or herself and correct it without help.
- Focus on your child's strengths. Your child may feel his or her problems with math mean he or she is not good at anything. Help your child understand that math is only one of many skills a person can have. Let your child tell you about his or her interests, and help your child build confidence in his or her abilities. He or she may also be more willing to work on his or her math skills if he or she feels confident about other skills.
- Do not focus on grades. Your child's anxiety may increase if he or she feels pressure to get a good grade. Praise improvement, such as an improved test score or more points for completed homework. It is okay to praise a good grade on an assignment or test, but do not make grades the goal.
- Practice math skills outside of school. For example, when you see a clock, ask your child what time it is. When you pay for items in a store, show your child how to give the right amount of money and count change. Have your child count flowers you pass as you walk along the street. Ask how many animals he or she sees in a field.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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