Dyscalculia affects a person’s ability to understand, recall or use numerical information. Some people may feel anxious when having to undertake any mathematics related tasks and so may avoid situations where they have to do this, such as paying bills or working with numbers. Dyscalculia can also affect the way numerical information is processed, which can mean people also have difficulty with memory, speed of thinking, organisation and sequencing.
Skills and strengths
People with Dyscalculia are likely to have a range of strengths in other areas including:
- Good verbal communication skills;
- Innovative problem solving and trouble shooting;
- Creative, intuitive and lateral thinking;
- Stronger in the areas of art, music, design, architecture and engineering;
- Seeing the bigger picture – strategic thinking and holistic approach.
Potential difficulties
Mathematics skills
- Weak mental arithmetic skills;
- Struggling with ‘simple’ mathematical tasks;
- Tending to be slower to perform calculations;
- Confusing mathematical signs e.g. +, - or x and formula;
- Difficulty interpreting charts or measurements;
- Forgetting mathematical procedures;
- Avoiding difficult tasks that are likely to result in a wrong answer;
- High levels of mathematics anxiety.
Number skills
- Difficulty with accurate recording of numbers;
- Confusion with dialling telephone numbers;
- Difficulty understanding financial information e.g. budgeting;
- Tendency to reverse numbers e.g. 117 read as 171;
- Difficulty reading long numbers e.g. telephone or bank account numbers;
- May get confused or forget pin codes, security numbers;
- Struggling to count backwards.
Other
- May struggle to tell the time;
- Difficulty with time management and awareness of time passing;
- Inability to estimate distance;
- Difficulty with navigation and direction or left/right confusion;
- Finding it hard to read bus numbers or timetables;
- Struggling with using money and budgeting;
- Difficulty with completing sequences of tasks in order.
Points to consider
If you supervise or have a colleague with dyscalculia there are some things you can suggest that may make their life easier:
Help with mathematical and data tasks
- Supply scrap paper for rough working;
- Provide handheld or even speaking calculator;
- Allow additional time to complete mathematical tasks;
- Provide the figures before a meeting or training session;
- Set aside some 1-1 time afterwards to review the material just presented;
- Present only essential data – remove all unnecessary words or figures;
- Provide a written copy of figures;
- Use where possible visual representations such as pie charts;
- For calculations suggest they write steps down and talk them through.
General use of numbers
- Offer help with remembering codes and passwords;
- Consider alternative passwords and codes not requiring numbers;
- Set up speed dialling of telephone numbers;
- Use examples and templates of forms involving numbers.
Other
- Flexible working to avoid busy times to help concentration;
- Quiet area or screening around the desk;
- Headphones to reduce noise distractions;
- Support with navigation or someone to accompany them on first visit;
- Help with planning and prioritising;
- Setting alarms and alerts to help with timings.
