It Just Doesn't Add Up - Dyscalculia And The Frustrated Kids Who Have It
November 20th, 2008

Those who suffer from dyscalculia produce inconsistent answers in basic mathematical functions such as addition, subtraction, etc. A child with this learning disability will have a difficult time or inability grasping and remembering math concepts and rules. The abstract concepts are placed into long-term memory for retrieval. Many children with dyscalculia can't get the information to the long-term memory so easily. So even though the child might be able to do math from a book, he or she will probably fail tests and quizzes. It is also common for these children to not understand the concept of maps and directions. They tend to lack the big picture and only see the fine details. Reading a clock or looking up the continents can prove mind blowing for these children. They tend to get lost and disoriented frequently and may seem absent minded. What is truly the case are the inability to visualize the concepts themselves and an inability in sequencing things.

They find it hard if not completely impossible to remember schedules, and the order of past and/or future events. These children find it difficult to keep track of time and usually always late or tardy. The simple task of remembering a name is just not there for these kids. They might know the first letter but after that there is a blank. This can make not only the academic world hard, but socializing as well. When playing games such as cards, sports or the like, they cannot remember the rules. It is easy for them to lose track or whose turn it is and what the score is as well. This can ostracize them from other children who do not understand. Children with dyscalculia need to spend extra time memorizing math concepts and facts. The repetition is extremely important. Have the child read problems out loud so they can use their hearing to aid them in understanding the problem. Overcoming the stress and social stigma of having a learning disorder can be hard. The frustration level can reach so high that these children might try to give up.

The student with dyscalculia needs to know that they are just as smart as everyone else but they may need one-on-one help to excel at getting specific concepts. Have your child work with you, a teacher, or a tutor during non-schooling hours. See if tests and quizzes can be given alone in just the teacher's presence. This will allow the student to take the extra time he or she might need to finish the exam. It will also keep the child from panicking. Remember that a child with dyscalculia wants to learn this material and be able to retain it. They want to be like everyone else. Be patient and understand that this can be a highly emotional and traumatic for the child. Do special things to boost their self-confidence. Don't get angry or upset if they freak out and threaten to quit. Let the child vent and blow off some steam. The constant struggle they are going through can lead to many outbursts. It is hard enough for children to control their emotions. It is even harder for a child who has a learning disability.

Reduce anxiety levels and don't harp on about the problem. The child feels as if he or she is drowning in a sea of incomprehension. This leads to more anxiety. Use of calculators and computers can help reduce a lot of the frustration level. For younger students, this can be even disheartening and frustrating. A simple color by number drawing can be a scary complex roller coaster ride. While all the other children discover the hidden picture a sad and embarrassed child sits with a picture that means looks nothing like the others. They try to hide what they have done to have the teacher and possibly the other students see what horrors in their mind they have caused. It is no wonder that children suffering from learning disorders such as dyscalculia have high rates of depression and social anxiety. The earlier a child can be diagnosed and helped to fix their math issues the better. There is hope for these kids so they do not have to suffer as much frustration and social stigma as they do

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