by Perry McCarney

Created on: September 16, 2008   Last Updated: January 24, 2012

Mathematics is not a popular subject. I'm sure that is not much of a surprise to anyone. Many people find it difficult and would prefer to take almost any other subject at school instead, even Latin (!) for those old enough to remember that being a common subject. For some, however, it is even more than difficult: those suffering from dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia is a general term used to cover a range of learning disabilities that impact on the ability of the sufferer to perform mathematical tasks. These may be arithmetic, geometric or procedural. Some people may have difficulty understanding numbers and how they relate to items they are dealing with. They may not be able to tell you they have four apples in front of them. Others are challenged by visual and spatial parameters, so that determining the name of a geometric shape based on the number of sides it has is difficult for them, such as being unable to determine between a triangle and a hexagon or failing to realise that a square block will not fit through a round hole. Those who have problems with memory retention may be unable to learn the times tables or have problems with mathematical calculations that follow problem-solving steps, such as long division.

Such difficulties can result at any age from internal or external injuries to the brain/head, whether physically or chemically induced. Chemical damage may also pass through the placenta to the unborn child of a pregnant woman. Such neurological problems can also have a genetic origin, with dyscalculia often appearing through the generations of a family.

Helping a student with dyscalculia requires identifying the mathematical areas they have difficulty with, but also those they don't. Encouragement is essential, finding areas that can be praised is just as important as determining those they have difficulty with. It is especially important to maintain a young child's interest and this is most easily done when you can give them praise that they themselves will feel is justified. Even before babies learn words, they recognize tones. Young children are capable of detecting falsehood in the voice of adults. Generally far better than adults can, as they see the world as black and white rather than multiple shades of grey. Legitimate praise is therefore far more effective than even the most sincerely intended encouragement that is backed by the most strongly suppressed disappointment, sadness or pity.

Dyscalculia can be very difficult to notice or determine

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