Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia (/dɪskælˈkjuːliə/ dis-kal-KYOO-lee-ə) is a specific learning disability involving innate difficulty in learning or comprehending arithmetic. It is akin to dyslexia and includes difficulty in understanding numbers, learning how to manipulate numbers, performing mathematical calculations and learning facts in mathematics. It is generally seen as a specific developmental disorder.
Etymology
The term "dyscalculia" comes from Greek and Latin which means "counting badly". The prefix “dys” comes from Greek and means “badly”. “Calculia” comes from the Latin “calculare”, which means “to count”. That translates to “counting badly”.
Symptoms
Dyscalculia symptoms involve difficulties in understanding and manipulating numbers and number facts, poor understanding of the signs +, −, ÷ and ×, or may even include difficulties with time, measurement, and spatial reasoning.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of dyscalculia involves a variety of tests, including cognitive tests of memory and spatial reasoning, as well as tests designed to identify number and calculation skills. It is important to differentiate dyscalculia from math anxiety, which is a psychological disorder that can also lead to difficulties with mathematical performance.
Treatment
While there is no cure for dyscalculia, there are many strategies and resources that can help individuals manage and overcome the challenges it presents. These may include the use of technology, specialized teaching strategies, and additional support in the classroom or at home.
Related Terms
- Dyslexia: A learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.
- Math Anxiety: An emotional reaction to mathematics based on a past unpleasant experience which harms future learning.
- Specific Developmental Disorder: A disorder characterized by a delay in the development of specific aspects of learning and skill acquisition.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Dyscalculia
- Wikipedia's article - Dyscalculia
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski