Specific Learning Disability:

Dyscalculia
Olivia Dockery

"Dyscalculia is defined as a failure to achieve in mathematics commensurate with chronological age,

normal intelligence, and adequate instruction. It is marked by difficulties with visualization; visual-spatial
perception, processing and discrimination; counting; pattern recognition; sequential memory; working-
memory for numbers; retrieval of learned facts and procedures; directional confusion; quantitative
processing speed; kinesthetic sequences; and perception of time."

Learning Characteristics
Struggle to keep up during instruction
Fail to make essential connections
Chronically in need of assistance
Must relearn frequently
Limited processing capacity
Constantly must triple-check.
They have difficulty quickly making sense of directions (ex. left-
right), visual-spatial information (clocks, math), and complex
sequences
They easily become overwhelmed and unable to think clearly

Behavioral Characteristics
Anxiety during math exams
Counts using fingers, tallies, or dots
Difficulty keeping up with rapid physical directions
Gets lost or disoriented
Poor retention/retrieval
Difficulty keeping track of time
Inability to grasp/remember basic math facts
Poor ability to visualize information

Instructional Strategies
Drawing, building, and demonstrating methods
Use computer instruction to chuck the content and allow achievement at
their desired pace
Provide repetition
Appeal to multiple senses
Projects instead of test
Use graph paper to help organization
Provide one-on-one testing
Provide a talking calculator
Use digital interactive programs to provide audio and visual feedback
Teach vocabulary explicitly daily
Illustrate and demonstrate concepts.

Accommodations
Extended time on tests
Organized note sheets
Digital resources to develop math skills
Visual representations
Provide charts with basic math facts
Provide assignment rubrics
Chunk worksheets into sections
Provide one problem at a time

Online Resources
School Resources: https://www.dyscalculia.org/
Organizational Resources:
https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/specific-learning-
difficulties/dyscalculia/
Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/147397500X?
tag=descofthein0a-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1
Fact Sheet:
https://assets.ctfassets.net/p0qf7j048i0q/5RsIIt1qjD0YvA
sE9snkHV/21d0ca1ccedcdc87385fbe591506d10e/Dyscal
culia_Fact_Sheet_Understood.pdf

Other Pertinent Information

People don’t outgrow dyscalculia. Kids who have a
hard time with math may continue to struggle with it
as adults. But there are strategies that can help them
improve math skills and manage the challenges.
Dyscalculia is common.
Dyscalculia is a brain-based learning difference.
Often overlooked.

https://www.dyscalculia.org/home
https://www.dyslexia.uk.net/specific-learning-difficulties/dyscalculia/
Resources Cited: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-
disabilities/dyscalculia/what-is-dyscalculia