One of the DYS disorders ,
dyscalculia
affects the understanding of numbers and calculation. Almost as common as dyslexia, it affects between 3% and 6% of pupils, and its symptoms can be seen as early as kindergarten. Durable and permanent, it comes in a variety of forms, targeting very specific mathematical difficulties.
The heterogeneity of dyscalculic profiles
Dyscalculic children use primitive strategies and finger-counting more often and for longer. To perform a simple calculation, such as adding 3 and 5, they will count from 1 instead of starting at 3 and adding 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, like children without this disorder. Later, dyscalculics will use their memory, whereas dyscalculics will always use the same technique. They won’t learn at the same pace as their peers…
But while dyscalculia systematically affects the numeracy sphere, it manifests itself to varying degrees and takes extremely varied forms, which researchers and clinicians have tried to classify, without however succeeding in drawing up a clear typology.
D. C. Geary’s classification
David C. Geary is an American cognitive and evolutionary psychologist interested in learning mathematics and gender differences. He proposed three subtypes of dyscalculia:
- Procedural dyscalculia: children rely on immature counting procedures and have little understanding of the concepts involved;
- Dyscalculia is characterized by difficulty in retrieving arithmetical facts: children have difficulty remembering tables and retrieving the results of simple additions and subtractions;
- Dyscalculia of a visuo-spatial nature: children make errors in aligning numbers in columns and are confused in their use of arithmetic signs.
Michael Von Aster’s classification
German child psychiatrist and psychotherapist Michael Van Aster prefers a classification based on the three formats of digital information (Dehaene’s triple code):
- Verbal dyscalculia: the child has difficulty counting, memorizing and calculating.
- Dyscalculia in reading and writing Arabic numerals : the child has difficulty with the numerals themselves, both in writing and in reading.
- Number sense dyscalculia: the child does not understand the concept of number.
How can I help a dyscalculic child?
Whatever its form or degree, dyscalculia needs to be diagnosed as early as possible. Even if the disorder is long-lasting and permanent, the sooner it is identified, the sooner the child can develop means of compensation to alleviate its consequences.
Once the diagnosis has been made by the speech therapist, several professionals, such as the occupational therapist or psychologist, can coordinate their interventions to help the dyscalculic child. As parents, you can also play a decisive role, by stimulating your child on a daily basis, in a caring and attentive environment.
You can also call on the Ora-Visio platform‘s tutoring professionals , who specialize in DYS disorders, to help your child with his or her homework.
