How to identify dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties

Characteristics of people with maths learning difficulties which can also be found in learners with dyscalculia include:-

• Difficulties understanding some maths concepts such as fractions and percentages.
• Difficulties with sequencing and pattern spotting.
• Difficulties with short term, working and long term memory.
• Difficulties remembering how to do a calculation or follow a procedure.
• Difficulties with mathematical language and word problems.
• Difficulties with automatic retrieval of information such as times tables.
• Immature strategies such as finger counting.
• Slow processing and information retrieval.
• Over reliance of rote learning even if they don’t understand what they are doing.
• Unable to explain what they are doing.
• Maths anxiety.
• Learners with dyscalculia can have some or all of the above but also have difficulties with number sense including comparing the values of numbers.
• Early identification is vital and the correct intervention at a young age to develop number awareness and flexibility will help build strong foundations for the understanding of the number system.