If you change the name, is this a familiar scenario at your house?
“Jessica, you’re so careless. You do this all the time. Look, you failed the test because you added when you were supposed to subtract. Didn’t you see the minus sign? Then you multiplied 6×7 and put 40. You even wrote 54 instead of 31 when you recopied your answer onto the next page. What’s wrong with you?”
Jessica isn’t really careless. She’s got classic dyscalculia symptoms, a math disorder. Unfortunately, characteristics of dyscalculia are often not picked up as being a math disorder. Kids with dyscalculia are usually diagnosed as being carelessness, unfocused and going too fast. It’s exactly what happened to Jessica.
Math is frustrating for many children. Whether it is due to having trouble remembering the number facts, multiplication tables, understanding concepts, or any of a large number of other issues, many children experience difficulty with both computation and application.
These children may have dyscalculia. Researchers believe this involves the visual and language processing portions of the brain. Evidence suggests that the causes may be genetic or environmental such as prenatal or environmental toxins like lead paint.
A reassuring note is that it’s not uncommon for the weakness to be in a specific area or skill, which, if compensated for, allows these students to operate at or above the level of their peers.
Symptoms of Dyscalculia:• Avoidance of math work.
• Inability to keep numbers in columns.
• Confusion with math concepts.
• Difficulty with word problems.
• Crying while doing math homework.
• Switching to addition while doing a subtraction problem
or visa versa.
• Forgetting addition facts and the multiplication tables.
• Difficulty remembering math steps.
• Changing the sequence of numerals when copying them.
How to Help Children With Dyscalculia: Seven Tips
1. Use Lined paper. If your child has trouble keeping numbers in columns, show her how to turn lined paper sideways so the lines become vertical guides. Or, encourage her to use graph paper to keep columns of numbers lined up.
2. Cover up columns. Have your child cover up all columns except those he’s working on.
3. Use a calculator when appropriate. If a child is being tested for concepts and understanding and has difficulty with computation, have him use a calculator for those tests or assignments.
4. Circle signs. Suggest that your child circle the + , –, or other arithmetic signs before doing the computation.
5. Color-code. Color-code fact families and multiplication facts for your young child. For example you could write or color 2+3=5, 3+2=5, 5-2=3, 5-3=2 in green, and 3+4=7, 4+3=7, 7-3=4, 7-4=3 in blue.
6. Write what you want. When your child is working on a word problem, tell her to write down the information and what she’s trying to solve for. Encourage her to use whatever method works best for that task such as making a list, drawing, or underlining.
7. Sub-vocalize. Suggest to your child that she talk to herself out loud or sub-vocalize.
Kids with dyscalculia can master math, but they need help. Talk to your child’s teacher and find out if she’s familiar with dyscalculia symptoms. Find out what resources are available at her school. Your child can enjoy success at school, even in math.
Do you have arithmetic challenges at your house? Do you have any tips that have helped. We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comment below.
Sincerely,
Dr. Al
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There are always ways to learn math, to have fun and to show the student that progress is being made. Grab a copy of our Dyscalculia Toolkit: How Singing, Playing Games and Having Fun can help defeat math disabilities.
More on Dyscalculia Symptoms
I just want to be tested without my parents knowing. They think I’m being dramatic and that I basically being lazy. I have to do everything. My mom wants me to wait 3 weeks but if I do that then school with be really really close to being over then by the time I even get the results it will be summer and I’m going into high school so I don’t want to have to deal with testing business at my first year! Math is SO HARD! Someone help me please! My parents can’t know. My friend even thinks I’m being mellow-dramatic and my math teachers think I’m lazy and not trying. )’: I need a test, an accurate one. Please.
I’m glad you wrote to me. You sound like you don’t know where to go or whom to go to because you feel that no one is listening to you. It’s frustrating when you think you have a math disability but no one is taking you seriously.
To make you feel better, you’re not alone. Thousands of children, teens, and adults go through life with a math disorder called dyscalculia and don’t get help for it.
Just as you describe, parents say they’re lazy. Teachers complain that they’re not trying. And friends think they’re making it up.
Here is what I suggest you do.
1. Show your parents, school counselor and math teacher the great question you sent me. Then show them my answer. Since you’re under 18 years old, you can’t take a test that is valid and reliable without your parents’ permission. So, they have to be on board for you to get help.
2. In the meantime, think about the difficulties you encounter when doing math. The answers to the questions below will shed some light on your situation.
Do you have trouble keeping numbers in columns?
Do you get confused with math concepts?
Do you have difficulty with math word problems?
When you were younger, did you cry while doing math homework?
Do you find yourself switching to addition while doing a subtraction problem or vice-versa?
Do you forget addition, multiplication and other arithmetic facts?
Do you have difficulty remembering math steps?
Do you change the sequence of numerals when copying them?
3. If you have these dyscalculia symptoms, you might indeed have dyscalculia. Here’s what you can do:
Talk to your parents, counselor and math teacher about being tested. Show them your answers to the questions above. This additional information should get their attention. Try to provide details instead of answering just “yes” or “no.” Specific examples and comments on how you try to deal with your problem will help too.
The school can evaluate if you have a math disorder by comparing your ability to your scores on a math assessment. If there’s a significant discrepancy, the school can provide remediation and modify your math courses to better match your needs. Math will then be easier for you. It’s reassuring that when compensated for a math disorder, students often achieve at or above the level of their peers.
In the meantime, you can begin to use these six strategies right away:
If keeping the numbers lined up is a problem, turn your paper sideways so the lines become vertical guides.
Cover up the other columns and math problems except those you’re working on.
If you’re allowed, use a calculator when appropriate. Becoming more proficient with a calculator is a skill, too.
Circle the addition, subtraction (+, -, x, =) or other arithmetic signs before doing the computation.
When you’ve got a math word problem, write down the information and what you’re trying to solve for. Use whatever method works best for that task such as making a list, drawing, or underlining.
To help keep yourself on task when doing math problems, talk to yourself out loud if you’re alone or sub-vocalize. (Incidentally, this is a great trick for reading too. If you ever find yourself daydreaming while reading, read out loud or use your finger to track the words on the page as you read)
I hope this helps you. Let me know how you make out.
I have ADD, and I think I have dyscalculia. I`m 11, and I want to be tested without my parents knowing. In school, when the teacher does math, it sounds like “gibberish”. When I’m given a math test, my mind goes blank. I read the last question, and here are my answers: Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y, Y. Please help!
Hi Madison,
You may have dyscalculia and need to be tested. But you need to have your parents on board. Talk to your school counselor and/or the school psychologist to help you work with your parents so that you get help.
Good luck,
Dr. Linda