Dyscalculia: What to Know

Written by Kelli Miller, Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN
Medically Reviewed by Smitha Bhandari, MD on November 06, 2024
10 min read

Dyscalculia is a learning disability related to mathematics.

It's not unusual for a child to have a tough time with math homework now and then. But if they do well in other subjects but have problems with numbers or get low math test scores, dyscalculia could be the reason.

Up to 7% of elementary school students have dyscalculia. Research suggests it's as common as dyslexia, a reading disorder, but not as well understood. People sometimes call it math dyslexia, but this can be confusing because dyscalculia is a different condition.

It can be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) — up to 60% of people who have ADHD also have a learning disorder. It also tends to run in families.

Dyscalculia isn’t something children grow out of. It can affect them in adulthood. Numbers are involved in several aspects of adult life, including:

  • Grocery shopping
  • Money management
  • Cooking
  • Getting to places on time

Dyscalculia symptoms are different depending on the child. They can start as early as preschool.

If your child has dyscalculia, they may lose track while counting. They may also continue to count on their fingers long after kids the same age have stopped doing it or find it hard to quickly notice how many things are in a group, a skill called “subitizing.” This skill helps you see a 5 and a 3 after you roll the dice without really counting.

With dyscalculia, even a basic understanding of numbers, or “number sense,” may not work well. This can make it hard to quickly tell, for example, if the number 8 is a bigger number than 6. A child with dyscalculia also may have a lot of anxiety about numbers. For example, they may panic at the thought of math homework.

School-aged kids with dyscalculia may find it hard to:

  • Count backward
  • Measure things
  • Understand math word problems
  • Learn basic math, such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication
  • Recognize the same math problem if presented differently, for example, understanding that 5+4=9 is the same as 9-4+5
  • Link a number (1) to its corresponding word (one) or a symbol, such as > meaning “greater than”
  • Understand fractions
  • Understand that decimal places change values
  • Understand graphs and charts (visual-spatial concepts)
  • Count money or make change
  • Remember phone numbers or ZIP codes
  • Tell time or read clocks
  • Judge speed or distance
  • Hold numbers in their head while problem-solving
  • Estimate things such as how long something takes or the ceiling height

Any numbers- or math-based activity -- even outside school -- can frustrate kids with dyscalculia. For example, if your child has this learning disability, games that require constant counting or scorekeeping may cause them to get upset.

Being unable to do these things easily — or at all — can make your child anxious and cause emotional symptoms.

They might become:

  • Panicked
  • Agitated
  • Fearful, even to the point of developing a phobia of going to school

Your child could also develop physical symptoms, such as:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Sweating
  • Stomach ache

Although dyscalculia is related to having problems with numbers, the condition can also affect other parts of life. Someone with dyscalculia might find themselves:

Getting lost easily. Someone with dyscalculia might have trouble telling right from left, mix up addresses, and forget directions. They might not be able to judge distances or time, making it hard to figure out how long it will take to get from one place to another.

Having trouble being on time. Having dyscalculia can make it hard to read clocks and tell time.

Forgetting things. Trouble remembering things such as phone numbers and addresses can add to stress and strain relationships with others.

Not enjoying or being able to play games or sports. Keeping track of scores can be too challenging. Remembering strategies or counting plays can also make it hard to play games.

Dyscalculia doesn’t usually happen alone. Often someone with dyscalculia has one more other conditions, such as:

Other disorders that might occur alongside dyscalculia are:

Experts aren’t sure what causes dyscalculia. More research is needed. But they think the structure of your brain and how it operates might have something to do with it.

Potential causes include:

Brain development. Researchers are using brain imaging tools on people with dyscalculia and those without it to study possible causes. They’ve found differences in the gray matter and changes in the surface area, thickness, and volume of the brain in the areas responsible for learning, memory, and making decisions.

Genetics. If a parent has issues with math related to dyscalculia, there's a higher risk of their child having it too. Genetic disorders that increase your odds of getting dyscalculia include:

  • Turner’s syndrome
  • Fragile X syndrome
  • Velocardiofacial syndrome
  • Williams syndrome

Environment. Research shows that dyscalculia might be linked to exposure to alcohol when the fetus is still in the womb. Premature birth and low birth weight might also play a role, as they’re linked with delays in brain development.

Brain injury. Studies show that injuries in certain parts of your brain might cause you to have trouble understanding math problems and numbers. This is called acquired dyscalculia.

In some cases, trouble with math might not be related to dyscalculia. It could be related to other things, such as:

  • Anxiety or math-related anxiety
  • Lack of proper math instructions
  • Lack of learning opportunities
  • Depression
  • Dyslexia
  • Other mental health issues

If your child has a hard time with numbers, see their doctor to rule out any vision or hearing problems that might affect their ability to learn. If these aren't the cause, talk to your child's math teacher to understand where they are having trouble. Also, talk to other teachers to find out if they are struggling in other areas.

If you think your child may have dyscalculia after speaking with their doctor and teachers, make an appointment to see a learning specialist. They'll talk with you and your child and test their math abilities to help determine if they have it. Getting a diagnosis opens the door for accommodations at school under theIndividuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). But be aware that private evaluations can be expensive.

However, your child can get one for free at school. Schools are required, by law, to provide evaluations for students who are struggling. Ask their teacher or the school’s counseling department how to get started. You might want to look outside the school for help. In that case, many local universities and teaching hospitals also offer free or low-cost evaluations. TheLearning Disabilities Association of America  can help you find free or low-cost options in your area as well.

Other options include: 

Your health insurance company. If you have health insurance, the company may have resources to help you and it may cover part of the evaluation cost.

Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs). This site provides an interactive map to help you find the PTI in your state.

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center). This page lists the states and their ECTA contacts.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Network. This is a network of community health centers. Their site can help you find a center near you.

Testing is the only way to know for sure if your child has the condition. The testing is sometimes called educational or psychoeducational testing. The tests look at four main things:

Computational skills. The ability to do math operations. Younger kids may get addition or subtraction problems, and older kids might get harder problems such as multiplication, division, and fractions.

Math fluency. The ability to easily recall basic math facts, such as 5x3 = 15, or how to multiply fractions.

Mental computation. The ability to do math problems in your head.

Quantitative reasoning. The ability to understand and solve word problems.

An expert can look at these tests and put together a report that can help you address the needs of your child.

There are no specific medications for dyscalculia. However, if your child has any other conditions like ADHD or anxiety, your doctor might recommend treatment for those conditions.

That said, since a child’s brain is still developing, learning new skills and abilities can often help children with dyscalculia adapt and still be successful. The important thing is early intervention; the earlier treatment begins, the better the chance your child has of learning coping skills and minimizing the impact of dyscalculia.

Professionals such as learning specialists, educational psychologists, and neurophysiologists who specialize in dyscalculia offer these recommendations:

  • Specially designed teaching plans, which may include extended times or using tools when taking a test
  • Math-based learning games
  • Practicing math skills more often than other students might

Here are some things you can try to help your child better learn and understand math and lower their anxiety:

  • Let them use their fingers and paper when they count.
  • Make sure they have the right tools, such as an easy-to-use calculator and plenty of erasers.
  • Use graph paper. It helps keep columns and numbers straight and neat.
  • Use rhythm and music to teach math facts and steps.
  • Get an experienced math tutor to help.
  • Draw pictures of math word problems.
  • Schedule computer time to play math games.
  • Praise their hard work, not the outcome.
  • Talk with them about their learning disability.
  • Teach them ways to manage anxiety.

Teachers who have students with dyscalculia can make some adaptations to suit their students’ needs. By speaking to the students’ parents and, if possible, with professionals involved in the students’ care will help you learn what type of adaptations are needed. They could include:

  • Providing a quiet workspace
  • Allowing them to use a calculator during math class and tests
  • Giving extra time to complete tests
  • Giving them the option to record lectures
  • Using creative lessons that use the senses and other approaches to learning aside from memorization, such as visual aids (graphs, blocks, etc.), music, and physical movement
  • Catching the students' attention with specific phrases like, “This is important to know because…”
  • Using real-life examples when explaining math problems
  • Teaching with hands-on tools (for younger students) and virtual tools (for older students)
  • Checking in with the students while they’re working to see if they’re on track
  • Providing extra tools such as a list of math formulas, tables, or checklists
  • Dividing worksheets into manageable sections
  • Providing extra space for the student to work out problems on the worksheets

Dyscalculia in adults is much the same as it is in children. The settings and responsibilities are just different. For example, you might be more likely to make mistakes with numbers or have anxiety when math-related tasks come up at work.

Look into private, low-cost, or free evaluations near you. A diagnosis may allow for accommodations that can make your job easier.

If you're diagnosed with dyscalculia that you've had since childhood but it wasn’t recognized, treatments that might help children won’t work for you. However, if you have acquired dyscalculia, there are some possible treatments, such as cognitive rehabilitation, but treatment depends on what caused the condition.

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects how someone can work with numbers and associated problems. It’s likely as common as dyslexia, but not as recognized. Many children who have dyscalculia also have other disorders, such as anxiety or ADHD. While there’s no treatment for dyscalculia, if your child is showing signs, they should be tested for the disorder. If they do have dyscalculia, the school can make adaptations to help your child adapt.

Do I have dyscalculia?

If you have symptoms that make you believe you might have dyscalculia, it’s a good idea to get evaluated by a learning specialist or an educational psychologist.

What do I do if I think I have dyscalculia?

If you are in school, ask about adaptations for students with learning disabilities. If you are working, you can ask the same from the human resources department. You can also work with an educational psychologist or learning specialist to learn about tools and adaptations you can make on your own.

How do you deal with dyscalculia?

Having dyscalculia means having to learn how to adapt to dealing with numbers and math-related issues. For example, you might need to always have a calculator handy, ensure that you have a step-by-step list of how to get from one place to another, and so on.

What are people with dyscalculia good at?

Everyone has different strengths, and that goes for people with dyscalculia too. Some people with the disorder are good at arts, others have strong verbal communication skills, and yet others are particularly good at problem-solving. People with dyscalculia may have varied talents; it's not accurate to say that they all are good at any one particular thing.

Is writing numbers backward a sign of dyscalculia?

Children often write numbers (and letters) backward until about age 7. After that, they could need some extra help, but they don’t necessarily have dyscalculia. Writing numbers backward isn’t the same problem as not understanding math.

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