What
is Dyscalculia?
When people first hear
of this word they may ask themselves, “what is dyscalculia?”
What is dyscalculia to those who suffer from this disorder and what
is dyscalculia all about? The answer is simple. Dyscalculia is a
learning disorder that involves math. Those who are diagnosed with
the disorder can either have problems understanding the meaning
of numbers or they can have trouble applying mathematical principals
to solve problems.
Dyscalculia is possibly caused by a miscommunication in the brain
involving the language and visual processing centers. Some believe
that dyscalculia is inherited, while others think environmental
toxins like lead paint can cause the learning disorder. Those who
suffer from dyscalculia cannot understand the meaning of numbers
or their quantities. Simple mathematical skills like knowing how
to add, subtract, multiply or divide are difficult. Everyday tasks
like counting the change returned to you after you’ve purchased
something, or calculating how much you should tip your waiter become
frustrating.
Those who suffer from this learning disorder are usually skilled
in reading and writing. They excel in the creative arts and have
excellent visual memory. Still, they are unable to grasp the simplest
of mathematical concepts. Usually dyscalculia is diagnosed when
the sufferer is school age. When a parent asks the question, “what
is dyscalculia?” usually teachers and administrators are there
to address any concerns. Many schools access the situation and evaluate
the child to confirm if they have dyscalculia or any other learning
disability.
If the child does have dyscalculia, they may be placed in special
education and teachers might develop a custom education program
for them. The focus is to better the child’s math vocabulary
and understanding of mathematical concepts.
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