I'm Late Again...
- Cynthia Fabian
- Sep 3
- 4 min read
Dyscalculia, the hidden math disorder, by Cynthia Fabian
I woke up late again!
You missed the alarm, you wake up, and realize you have a literature quiz that day. You glance at the cell and realize your brother, thinking it was funny, messed with your cell; it's on analog. You learned to tell time, but that doesn’t matter; it takes you a few seconds to fumble and to change it back to digital, but then you are late once again.
Grasping the concept of time can be difficult, especially when one cannot read an analog clock. What takes other children a millisecond to read, your child may not be able to do for several minutes or not at all. And no sense of time derails everyday responsibilities.
Pronounced (dys-cal-qu-lia) is a disorder that affects so many everyday tasks. It often goes undiagnosed. But that’s mainly because it can also be present with other disorders, like ADHD, or dyslexia (the disorder that creates problems with words).
According to statistics, this disorder affects 6-7% of the overall child population.
Here are some signs your child may have dyscalculia:
Difficulty with special connections, like fitting in boxes, packing, or helping to organize items in his or her room.
Difficulty conceptualizing the communicative property of numbers.
(51 + 23) = (23 + 51)
And that concept can be a problem for your child throughout their life. After all, it helps to identify all the ways we not only see math in our lives, but also use math as a tool in later life. I’ve had so many kids tell me that computers or their phones will help them, and they don’t need math, but math is everywhere, finding its way into future careers and more.
Having difficulties with word problems:
The disorder rears its head when it comes to word problems; your child may panic because it involves a combination of English, logic, and math. Even if a student excels in English, they may struggle with logic. For English language learners, the students are primarily experiencing difficulty learning a new language. Then the complexities of math and English combined find the disorder difficult. In working with students with DD, I found that using Latin and Greek root words helps significantly. Connecting root words to mathematical words then shows scaffolding for how words are formed. Then their meanings connect as well.*
Lack of self-esteem:
Sometimes, a child may also experience behavioral problems in addition to DD. And often lose much of his self-esteem. It isn't easy to recognize that the problem might be coming from a lack of being able to do something like his peers and sheer frustration. It takes some time to sit down and realize what is happening with your young adult.
If you suspect your child is struggling excessively with math and not grasping the concepts, consider speaking with your teacher or consulting the resources provided at the bottom of the article.
Do they have depth perception?
This goes back to organizing, stocking shelves or even playing games. And later, when teens are learning to drive, signs and parking are vital. When you lack spatial recognition and depth perception, it can be a significant struggle.
Be on hand, but try not to hover
When we break down the steps of our everyday life, we perform tasks so seamlessly. Oh, I am going to the store. Let me see if I need water. Am I almost out? What about the chips? Do I have enough dog food? Let me check the flyer to see what is on sale this week.
That takes a few problem-solving steps that we do easily and take for granted.
A child who has DD finds even the smallest of numbers, like preparing to make a shopping list, which includes counting what is left in cans or other objects in the pantry, or going shopping, can add stress to their day.
So, when gradually learning life skills, many parents don’t like their kids to use their fingers, but it is a way of working out the problem. It demonstrates intelligence and awareness, as fingers represent numbers.
The unknown is everywhere
Solving for X or Y in algebraic equations is exceedingly tough for a child with DD, but even counting backwards, or figuring out the tip at the restaurant, may be a challenge as well.
Simply put, what does that mean for your child:
Your child or young adult needs to feel that they learn a little differently, so be patient and positive. And if you need to look for a tutor who specializes in DD to help find a solution.
Resources:
Bio:
A Best-Selling Author, Cynthia Fabian is a former teacher of English and TESOL in NYC. She is a general writer and author of nearly 10 books, including her latest one, which features a kid's life and times while living with dyscalculia, entitled Figure Eight, about a kid with dyscalculia. Based on the life of a genius who had dyscalculia, now a prominent mathematician. And not Figure Eight Two, continues the journey.
She donates some of the proceeds from her books to charitable organizations.
SBPRA.comcynthiafabian
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