Understanding Dyscalculia: Symptoms Explained

Dyscalculia may not sound familiar, but this math learning difference may be quite common, says our expert. Watch this video to learn more about dyscalculia and how kids with this specific learning difference may struggle with math.

In this video, Daniel Ansari, PhD, Professor and Development Cognitive Neuroscientist at Western University, explains the specific learning difference known as dyscalculia. Kids with dyscalculia may struggle with basic math concepts. Dyscalculia affects kids with at social and in their everyday life. Kids with dyscalculia may have difficulties with how to make exact change or how to measure the right amount of an ingredient. Watch as Dr. Ansari explains common dyscalculia symptoms, when they might occur, and tips to help your child overcome math challenges.

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[laughingcorpses]

It sucks when your parents refuse to acknowledge things like this in your youth. I’m in High School and I’m retaking 4th grade math and can’t recognize patterns, terms, angles, listing, etc. My mom refuses to believe I might have a learning disability because “everyone struggles with math”.

[ashleighberryman]

Also Art class was a safe haven. It was where I the genius. One day a group of kids were just watching me and another guy copy a famous painting with ease. One day a girl said” How can y’all do that and I cant it’s just art....” and they guy turned around and said “the same way you can do algebra and I just to stop myself from bursting into tears right was 2002.

[hannahkohl]

I cried while watching this I though i was the only one who was this bad at math

[neurotika]

My art teacher saw how much I feared my math class. I would break down in tears, or shut down altogether in my high school algebra classes. I don’t know if I have it, I excelled in every other subject including science. I did well in elementary school math. But around seventh or eighth grade, things just stopped making sense. I can recall my teachers face, it was like I had insulted her directly. She was fed up with me. I’ll never forget how awful it felt to be made to feel stupid....but I wasn’t. I tried so hard to understand complex equations, fractions, and sometimes it wasn’t so bad when I was following sling. but once I was tasked to do these equations on my own, I got lost. I can’t tell you how many tutors I had or how many would grit their teeth as I sat there in shame. I remember my art teacher mentioned this disorder. I brought it up to my parents and they didn’t take it seriously. They thought I just didn’t try hard enough.

I was so excited for college, I wasn’t going to piss my life away. I had dreams to accomplish. I started with my local community college, tested out of the intro college English class, came close to it for history, and ended up with remedial algebra. I failed the first year. I paid out of pocket the second time around, and was so defeated I didn’t show up for my finals. I had tutors, I tried everything possible to get a passing grade but I knew I wouldn’t get it. That’s what broke me. I gave up school. I’m sitting on ten years of shame and regret and frustration and it dawned on me to look up that word, dyscalculia, mentioned by my high school art teacher so many years ago. To think I wasn’t just lazy or stupid, that there may have been a legitimate reason I struggled...to say I’m on the brink of tears is a simplification of the emotions I feel right now.

[Carlinisalive]

I thought it was just me I’m 25 and I’ve been dealing with this my whole life

[billfowler]

Another quick observation.
Giving a person with dyscalculia more time on a test or assignment is absolutely useless. So is tutoring. Our brain is not wired to understand mathematical concepts no matter how much time you give us or how many times you explain something to us.

[billfowler]

I am almost 60 years old and have had dyscalculia since about 5th grade. They didn’t know what it was or have any patience for it back then. My school was so small that we didn’t have special education, but if we had, I’m sure I would have ended up there. I never passed any math class from 5th grade on through college and graduate school. I made straight A’s in all my classes that didn’t require math so I was able to get by. I had a 30 plus year career as an educator and never did I use any math beyond simple addition and subtraction. Calculators and computers didn’t exist when I was in school so everything was pencil and paper. Eventually, I learned to use a pocket calculator but still struggle to understand how percentages, multiplication, division, and fractions work. I flunked out of several algebra classes and never understood what was going on. Teachers and my dad got so frustrated with me. I heard; “It’s so simple! Why can’t you see it?” So many times growing up. I finally got diagnosed my senior year of college when passing a basic math for teachers class was all that stood between me and graduation. I had taken the same class 5 times and had never earned a passing grade on any assignment or exam. My professor finally pulled strings to get me tested and that was the first time I ever knew dyscalculia existed. I’d never even heard the term and I was about to earn a degree in education. My professor finally passed me out of pity. When my GRE results came back for acceptance to graduate school, my advisor called me into his office and gave me the news. I had a perfect score on the verbal section of the test and the lowest score my university had ever seen on the math portion. I accidentally got a couple of math problems right and made it into graduate school by one point. I went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude with a master’s degree.
So, I’m glad kids today have the support and resources of teachers who know about this problem and can offer solutions.
When I was a principal, I would hear math teachers talking about students and recognized the signs of dyscalculia. Most of my teachers knew all about dyslexia but had no idea a similar condition existed regarding numbers.
Anyway, a dyscalculia story from someone that suffered through this affliction when no one even knew what it was.

[kymeana]

I don’t think I have dyscalculia but however I get anxiety when someone ask me a simple math question, I can’t calculate at all when other in presence, I have to be in private. Because of this, I had some embarrassing dumb moments, especially with tutors, I feel anxiety whenever they ask me a question, even if a simple 6-7, I either stutter or time consume.

[shepskylady]

I have obviously had dyscalculia my whole life, but it took till i was 16 or 17 to get diagnosed with it. People always assumed i just wasnt "good at math", or i didnt try hard enough to read clocks, or i was just clumsy and couldn't tell left from right or read directions or see distance very well. I wish people realized that i had it sooner because ive gone years without help and am now going into college or university with the math competency of a 4th grader 😂😂

[aarann]

I'm decent at every other subject apart from maths lol I literally can't do math in my head at all and always forget it

[rashidbinzaiyed]

I'm 17 and still I don't know how to multiply, divide and subtract...🙄🙄🙄

[XTheSpartanX]

This brought tears to my eyes. I would study twice as hard as all my peers in math classes and receive a worse grade. When it came to verbal and science classes without heavy math, I would excel and often be at the top. Time to get an assessment for discalculia.

[sickboyrari]

I hate going to school just because I don’t want to go to math every time I enter that class I get tensed.

[littledollbear]

I spent years undiagnosed. Finally got my maths passed at 25 due to a tutor who helped me

[hariharanb]

I am 28 and still have a hard time counting change. I was super bad with math, but derivation was an exception. I was smarter than all the guys in school at derivation.

[yobiwolrd]

This is not just children! I am an adult find adult it still effects me

[nancymenn]

It is tragic that in 2020 almost no one knows how to teach math. Kids who understand math need minimal instruction, so little teaching occurs. Kids who don't understand are blamed for not learning, when in fact little actual, useful instruction is given. They are left behind and blamed for it. Shame on the curriculum developers and teacher colleges for such terrible work.

[ronnie]

I noticed how people with dyscalculia have a great connection with art, I’m absolutely horrible at math not only because of not paying attention in online school for an year but because all the things I’ve learned in the past grade I’ve either forgotten or barely remember and I have great connection with art, It makes me feel happy and it’s so soothing, Brings ease to my mind.

[Topnomad]

I have discalculia, I was not helped in anyway in school. My reading and writing was always very good. I used to hide in the toilet before maths class so people didn't know I was in the remedial set.

[susaville]

I was partially homeschooled and was yelled at for being "sloppy" in math constantly. I hated math because the numbers always changed and tricked me.