Dyscalculia - Specific Learning Disability in Mathematics

Dyscalculia refers to a syndrome found in people with specific learning disability in mathematics. Individuals with dyscalculia suffer with the inability to memorize and/or retain mathematical concepts and also have other characteristics and display other symptoms. In spite of their academic acuity in other subjects, those with dyscalculia are baffled when they read, understand and work math problems, but mysteriously forget how they did so, sometimes within an hour!

Dyscalculia affects 4% - 6% of the world population, yet it is relatively unknown. Like many learning disabilities, it is believed dyscalculia may be inherited or be the result of brain damage or problems with brain development. What is perhaps the most frustrating about the dyscalculia syndrome is that students with dyscalculia are generally gifted in most other academic subjects. In fact, the students might be in Honors class, have excellent grades in other subjects and learn and retain other information with great facility.

Dyscalculics exhibit normal or accelerated verbal, reading and writing skills and often possess above average poetic ability. They also have good visual memory for the printed word. Dyscalculics are good in science until they reach a level that requires higher math skills and do well in the creative arts. But dyscalculia can severely limit career choices and pursuit of higher education.

Why is dyscalculia such a big deal when we live in a world with computerized cash registers, laptops, handheld calculators, etc.? Dyscalculia can detrimentally impact every aspect of the life of someone with dyscalculia syndrome. Those with the syndrome will find even the most routine tasks involving numbers nearly impossible and at best, terribly challenging.