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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.