what is dyscalculia?

Answer 1

dyscalculia causes people to have increased difficulty understanding and learning arithmetic. All those weird symbols, the numbers everywhere, and just what to do with them.

This rather specific type of learning disability usually "show up" early in the early education of the student

Dyscalculia (or dyscalcula)

"Dyscalculia" is a lessor-known learning disability that affects mathatical calculations. It is derived from the generic name "mathematics difficulty".

There are rigorous criteria used to determine if a student has a learning disability as it is defined by special education criteria. When a student's mathematics difficulties are severe enough to meet certain criteria, special education services are indicated. However, "dyscalculia" has no clearly defined criteria and cannot be assessed reliably. A student with any degree of mathematics difficulty may be considered to have "dyscalculia" by some educational specialists.

Because of the ambiguity of categorization, being identified as having "dyscalculia" may or may not indicate the need for special education services. The term appears to be seldom used within public schools because of the lack of any clear, measurable criteria. Nevertheless, many students have it.

UNDERLYING CAUSES

Dyscalculia has several underlying causes. One of the most prominent is a weakness in visual processing. To be successful in mathematics, one needs to be able to visualize numbers and mathematics situations. Students with dyscalculia have a very difficult time visualizing numbers and often mentally mix up the numbers, resulting in what appear to be "stupid mistakes."

Another problem is with sequencing. Students who have difficulty sequencing or organizing detailed information often have difficulty remembering specific facts and formulas for completing their mathematical calculations.

SYMPTOMS

Many students with disabilities have histories of academic failure that contribute to the development of learned helplessness in mathematics. It is important that mathematics instructors recognize the symptoms of dyscalculia and take the necessary measures to help students that are affected. Some of the symptoms are:
Students might have spatial problems and difficulty aligning numbers into proper columns.
Have trouble with sequence, including left/right orientation. They will read numbers out of sequence and sometimes do operations backwards. They also become confused on the sequences of past or future events
Students typically have problems with mathematics concepts in word problems, confuse similar numbers (e.g., 7 and 9; 3 and 8), and have difficulty using a calculator.
It is common for students with dyscalculia to have normal or accelerated language acquisition: verbal, reading, writing, and good visual memory for the printed word. They are typically good in the areas of science (until a level requiring higher mathematics skills is reached), geometry (figures with logic not formulas), and creative arts.
Students have difficulty with the abstract concepts of time and direction (e.g. inability to recall schedules, and unable to keep track of time). They may be chronically late.
Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name/face retrieval. Substitute names beginning with same letter.
Students have inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Students have poor mental mathematics ability. They are poor with money and credit and cannot do financial planning or budgeting (e.g. balancing a checkbook). Short term, not long term financial thinking. May have fear of money and cash transactions. May be unable to mentally figure change due back, the amounts to pay for tips, taxes, etc
When writing, reading and recalling numbers, these common mistakes are made: number additions, substitutions, transpositions, omissions, and reversals.
Inability to grasp and remember mathematics concepts, rules formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Poor long-term memory (retention & retrieval) of concept mastery. Students understand material as they are being shown it, but when they must retrieve the information they become confused and are unable to do so. They may be able to perform mathematics operations one day, but draw a blank the next. May be able to do book work but can fails all tests and quizzes.
May be unable to comprehend or "picture" mechanical processes. Lack "big picture/ whole picture" thinking. Poor ability to "visualize or picture" the location of the numbers on the face of a clock, the geographical locations of states, countries, oceans, streets, etc.
Poor memory for the "layout" of things. Gets lost or disoriented easily. May have a poor sense of direction, loose things often, and seem absent minded. May have difficulty grasping concepts of formal music education. Difficulty sight-reading music, learning fingering to play an instrument, etc.
May have poor athletic coordination, difficulty keeping up with rapidly changing physical directions like in aerobic, dance, and exercise classes. Difficulty remembering dance step sequences rules for playing sports.
Difficulty keeping score during games, or difficulty remembering how to keep score in games, like bowling, etc. Often looses track of whose turn it is during games, like cards and board games. Limited strategic planning ability for games, like chess.

Answer 2

The answers given above are all quite correct. However, there is a danger (as there is with any "thought or learning disease") of it becoming a self fulfilling prophecy. Math is more difficult for some people than others. One should not decide that person x has dyscalculia and then quit trying to teach them. When you do this the label - no matter if real or not - becomes the diagnosis.

Answer 3

Dyslexia is words and letters. Dyscalculia is numbers. those with dyslexia have situation reading and writing because of the fact the letters and words seem all jumbled up or the letters look fairly diverse to how we'd see them. Dyscalculia is a similar yet impacts the way you spot and study and write numbers. in case you do have the two of those circumstances there are assorted methods you will get help to make life a sprint less complicated. solid success.

Answer 4

dys·cal·cu·li·a Audio pronunciation of "dyscalculia" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (dskl-kyl-)
n.

Impairment of the ability to solve mathematical problems, usually resulting from brain dysfunction.

Answer 5

Dyslexia with numbers rather than letters. Some people call it "numeric dyslexia". Of course, it makes math in general very hard for people who have it.

It can affect you in other ways (sense of direction, mainly), but that's the primary effect.

Answer 6

Learning disability (Math Dyslexia) that inverts numeral digits, making it difficult to do basic math functions.