Dyscalculia: An Essential Guide for Parents

Dyscalculia:An Essential Guide for Parents

Stephanie Glen, MAT

Smashwords Edition

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Copyright 2014 Stephanie Glen

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Contents

Introduction

Signs of Dyscalculia

What Causes Dyscalculia?

Diagnosis

Treatment

Alternate Instruction

Intensive Programs for Students

Assistive Software

Related Disorders

References

Introduction

Mathematics Learning Disorder (commonly called dyscalculia) is a brain-based learning disorder that affects arithmetic skills.

About 5% to 7% of students have dyscalculia, which is just as common in girls as it is in boys. It is not an intellectual disability. In fact, the definition of dyscalculia according to the American Psychiatric Association is a specific learning disability that affects the normal acquisition of arithmetic skills in spite of normal intelligence. This particular learning disability is also not affected by opportunities to learn, emotional stability, or motivation. In other words, the quality of education your child receives and their desire to learn math has nothing to do with dyscalculia because it is caused by physical issues in the brain.

Research suggests that, like other learning disabilities, dyscalculia has a genetic component and may run in families. Children who were born prematurely with a low birth weight and individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD), Gerstmann’s Syndrome, developmental language disorder, dyslexia, epilepsy, Turner’s Syndrome and fragile X syndrome are also susceptible to having dyscalculia. In fact, about 25% of students with dyscalculia also have ADHD or dyslexia. In boys with ADHD, over 20% have dyscalculia (Manor, Faraone). Students with both dyslexia and dyscalculia are more profoundly impaired (Shalev). Poor teaching and a poor learning environment have also been linked to the development of the condition.

About half of students with dyscalculia can be helped with remedies like rote learning of arithmetic or learning different strategies for arithmetic. Some schools of thought think that dyscalculia is something a child can grow out of as the brain matures (underdeveloped portions of the brain are thought to play a role in the development of the disorder). However, dyscalculia can become a persistent learning disability for many students.

Learning Arithmetic

Arithmetic surrounds us in our