What is Dyscalculia?
Children and adults with dyscalculia exhibit difficulty in understanding and manipulating mathematical concepts. This distinctive neurological disorder can occur independently without any accompanying intellectual disability. In this instance, a child’s academic performance and abilities are unaffected. Due to its nature, it can greatly impede an individual’s capacity to learn at the same rate as their peers. Unfortunately, it can be a lifelong challenge.
The sooner we diagnose dyscalculia, the sooner you have access to much-needed support. If you believe that you or a loved one has dyscalculia, contact our specialists. Educational Assessments offer dyscalculia tests at our clinic in Sydney. A diagnosis could ease your struggle and provide you with additional support.
Despite dealing with dyscalculia on a day-to-day basis, plenty of people go undiagnosed. The impact of dyslexia is far-flung. People with dyscalculia often have difficulties mastering number sense, facts and calculations. However, it can also have a big impact on self-confidence too. It’s often the case that individual’s with the disorder tend to develop coping strategies. Although some may not even realise they have an impairment and will do the best with what they have. Others may want to reach out and seek help but fear the judgement of doing so.
The following lists challenges that different age groups might face. It’s often the case that these impairments affect ALL individuals with dyscalculia. However, owing to the academic structure of mathematics, they will likely face these issues in the following order.
Young Children
Confusion identifying printed numbers
Confusion over organisational processing
Difficulty in writing mathematical equations
Difficulty with the orientation of numbers
Hampered arithmetic comprehension
Impaired counting skills
School Age
An inability to grasp formulae and sequences
Difficulty conceptualising units of measurement
e.g. time, volume, weight etc.
Difficulty with estimates
Hampered comprehension of mathematical concepts
e.g. times table, fractions, etc.
Impaired processing of mental arithmetic
Mixing up operational signs
e.g. +, -, ÷, x, etc.
Teenagers & Adults
Apprehension with using/or avoiding calculators
Apprehension with metal arithmetic
Difficulty with/avoidance of general estimations
Hampered comprehensive of alternative problem solving
Impaired grasp on time and measurement
Misconstrued sense of direction
Dealing with dyscalculia
If you’re feeling unsure, our specialists will be able to provide the answers. Educational Assessments offer four packages and one advanced clinical assessment. The first three packages assess all learning disorders, including dyscalculia. We also offer a variety of other services and test both children and adults. These are undertaken in our designated facilities across Australia, including Sydney. Our qualified team of consultants also conduct home tests too. We are an impartial service who is here to help. Please don’t be afraid to reach out and get in touch.
Our Sydney Clinic
At our Sydney clinic, our registered psychologists can test an individual’s cognitive abilities. Once tested at an early age, you can better adapt your child’s learning environment. This will better accommodate their cognitive understanding and greatly benefit their future prospects.