Dyscalculia Support
What is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty characterized by severe and persistent challenges with understanding numbers, which can lead to a wide range of difficulties in learning and using mathematics.
Symptoms of Dyscalculia:
- Difficulty with number sense: Struggling to understand concepts like quantity, order, or the value of numbers.
- Problems with math facts: Difficulty remembering basic math facts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
- Trouble with calculations: Difficulty performing calculations, even simple ones, or making frequent errors.
- Difficulty with time and measurement: Trouble understanding time (e.g. telling time on an analog clock) or measuring lengths and weights accurately.
- Struggling with math symbols: Confusion with math symbols (+, -, =, etc.) and how to apply them in calculations.
- Difficulty with organisation: Trouble organising math-related tasks, such as keeping numbers in columns or following multi-step instructions.
- Slow processing speed: Taking longer to complete math tasks compared to peers.
- Math anxiety: Feeling anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed when faced with math tasks.
Getting a Diagnosis
Unlike dyslexia, there is no standard NHS assessment for dyscalculia, so you may need to seek a private assessment. However, you can start by discussing your concerns with a GP, teacher, or school SENDCO. They may suggest an educational psychologist (EP) assessment or refer you to a specialist.
For adults, private assessments by specialist psychologists or dyscalculia experts are usually required. These assessments involve tests on number sense, memory, and problem-solving skills. Once diagnosed, you can access support such as extra time in exams, or specialist tutoring.
