Dyscalculia is a specific learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers. Often compared to dyslexia (which affects reading), dyscalculia primarily impacts mathematical skills and can significantly affect everyday life. In this article, we explore what dyscalculia is, how it is diagnosed, and what an appropriate intervention should include in order to improve the patient’s quality of life.
What is dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily characterized by significant difficulties in learning and understanding mathematics. People with dyscalculia may struggle with basic tasks such as counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. They may also experience difficulties with more abstract mathematical concepts, such as place value (the importance of a digit’s position within a number, which determines its value—for example, units and tens) and pattern recognition (identifying sequences or regularities in numbers).
Numerical skills are essential in everyday life; dyscalculia can negatively affect a person’s ability to manage money, tell time, and perform simple calculations. It is important to clarify that this condition is not related to a person’s overall intelligence, but rather to a specific difficulty involving mathematical abilities. In some cases, dyscalculia may also coexist with twice-exceptionality, a profile in which individuals present both learning difficulties and high intellectual abilities or exceptional talents in other areas.
What happens in the brain of a person with dyscalculia?
In the brain of a person with dyscalculia, alterations can be observed in the neural network responsible for numerical and arithmetic processing. Neuroimaging studies have identified deficits in key regions such as:
- the angular gyrus (a region in the parietal lobe associated with language processing, mathematics, and spatial cognition)
- the intraparietal sulcus (located in the parietal lobe and involved in numerical perception and quantity manipulation)
- and frontal areas (including the prefrontal cortex, which plays a crucial role in executive functions such as planning, decision-making, and attention)
Together, these abnormalities may manifest as difficulties in numerical perception, working memory, and spatial manipulation abilities. In addition, atypical connectivity between these regions has been observed: the neural pathways responsible for integrating numerical, spatial, and executive information do not function efficiently, making it more difficult to perform complex mathematical tasks.
Manifestations of dyscalculia
A person with dyscalculia may exhibit a range of signs and difficulties, including challenges in understanding numbers, manipulating quantities, memorizing mathematical operations, and solving problems. In addition, these difficulties may coexist with impairments in working memory and attention, which can further complicate mathematical performance.
How is dyscalculia diagnosed?
Diagnosing dyscalculia is a complex process that involves multiple stages of assessment. The first step is usually an initial evaluation conducted by an educational professional or school psychologist who identifies persistent difficulties in mathematics. However, a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation is required in order to establish a definitive diagnosis.
A neuropsychological assessment for dyscalculia currently includes a range of tests designed to measure mathematical abilities across different areas. These tests may assess the ability to perform basic calculations, understand mathematical concepts, and solve problems. In addition, the evaluation may also include assessments of general cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, and processing speed, since these functions can influence mathematical performance.
How are dyscalculia and ADHD connected?
Comorbidity between dyscalculia and ADHD is considered relatively common. In 2008, a team of researchers observed that children with ADHD tend to have a higher risk of developing mathematical difficulties, including dyscalculia, compared to their peers without ADHD*. Likewise, individuals with dyscalculia may also display symptoms associated with ADHD.
Studies have shown that a significant percentage of individuals with ADHD also experience math-related learning difficulties characteristic of dyscalculia.
This coexistence of disorders can complicate both diagnosis and treatment, as symptoms may overlap or influence one another. For example, the inattention associated with ADHD can worsen mathematical difficulties, while frustration caused by struggling to understand math may increase symptoms of impulsivity or hyperactivity.
What should a comprehensive intervention for dyscalculia include?
Improving numerical skills in individuals with dyscalculia requires a multifaceted approach that combines personalized interventions, the use of technology, and specific educational strategies.
Personalized educational interventions
- Direct and repetitive instruction: using explicit and repetitive teaching methods to reinforce basic mathematical concepts.
- Breaking down problems into smaller steps: dividing mathematical problems into smaller, more manageable stages.
- Use of manipulatives: incorporating physical objects such as blocks, abacuses and flashcards to help visualize and understand abstract mathematical concepts.
Psychological and educational support
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): in some cases, CBT can help address math anxiety and develop coping strategies for stressful situations related to mathematics and the frustration they may cause.
- Educational coaching: a learning specialist or educational coach can work with adolescents and adults to develop study techniques and problem-solving strategies tailored to their individual needs.
Compensatory strategies
- Use of calculators and digital tools: allowing the use of calculators and supportive applications to compensate for difficulties with mental calculations.
- Organization and planning skills: teaching organizational and planning strategies to help manage tasks that require numerical skills, such as time management and handling money.
Programs and resources for adolescents and adults
- Adaptive math courses: many educational programs offer adaptive learning courses that adjust to the student’s pace and level, providing continuous and personalized support.
Comprehensive and Ongoing Assessment
Dyscalculia cases need to be monitored rigorously in order to understand how the brain functions, how changes evolve throughout neurodevelopment, and what challenges may emerge over time. Virtual reality and Continuous Performance Tests offer a valuable opportunity to carry out in-depth evaluations, with appropriate monitoring tailored to each individual case.
References:
* Capano L, Minden D, Chen SX, Schachar RJ, Ickowicz A. Mathematical Learning Disorder in School-Age Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 2008;53(6):392-399. doi:10.1177/070674370805300609