Dyscalculia

 

  Dyscalculia is a math-related learning disability.  It comes from the Greek and Latin for “counting badly”.  People affected have problems with basic math and sequencing.

          Dyscalculia is similar to dyslexia, but less common and lesser known.  It is estimated that 3% of the world’s population is dyscalculic.  It affects males and females equally, and spreads across all IQ ranges.  It is not completely known what causes dyscalculia- whether it’s neurological, hereditary or something else entirely.

          There are about 50 different types of dyscalculia, and various degrees of it.  For example, there is procedural dyscalculia and number-fact dyscalculia, both of which deal with specific areas of the brain.  However, there are many common symptoms.  People with dyscalculia have little or no understanding of math concepts, poor long term memory, are often bad with money or checkbooks, and have no sense of time management.  However, many people with dyscalculia are extremely gifted in other areas, such as language, art, poetry, or writing.

          Lately, Dyscalculia has been becoming more widely known and accepted.  It is easy to get tested and diagnosed, and help is becoming more readily available.                           

                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

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Created by Kate Greene