Dyscalculia is a Specific Learning Disability that affects a person’s ability to acquire arithmetical skills. It can manifest as a person’s inability to understand basic number concepts and/or number relationships, recognise symbols, and comprehend quantitative and spatial information. Sometimes an individual with Dyscalculia may be able to carry out a calculation correctly, but does not understand why it works, which means that they cannot transfer the knowledge to other new problems. Research suggests that Dyscalculia has varying levels of severity and can affect different areas of mathematical calculations. These difficulties can have an adverse effect on many day-to-day activities such as dealing with finances, following directions, managing a diary and keeping track of time. It is estimated that Dyscalculia occurs in about 6% of the population.

Dyscalculia is usually assessed by firstly looking at an individual’s numeracy skills in comparison to their peers (i.e. how they are able to carry out sums involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimal points, integers, square roots, and algebra), as well as their ability to carry out word based maths problems involving everyday life examples (i.e. telling the time, reading a calendar, and understanding a graph or grid). Secondly, the cognitive processes that are involved in numeracy (such as non-verbal or perceptual reasoning, and working memory skills) are also investigated. Finally, basic number concepts (such as estimation, subitising, and numerosity or ‘number sense’) are also investigated.

If you are concerned about Dyscalculia The Insight Centre completes such assessments. Our reports are accepted by the Department of Education and all services. If you would like to make an appointment please contact the clinic on 01-8463894 or email: admin@theinsightcentre.ie

Written By Emma Magee, Educational Psychologist, The Insight Centre