About dyscalculia
How does dyslexia affect maths learning?
People with dyslexia tend to have poor working memory, speed of processing and rapid retrieval of information from long-term memory. These weaknesses will also affect maths learning.
60% of learners with dyslexia have maths learning difficulties. They may develop gaps in their learning because of the hierarchical nature of maths; the lack of firm foundation skills can affect the learning of new skills.
They may have specific difficulties with certain areas of maths such as:
- Learning number sequences (such as counting backwards or step counting)
- Difficulties hearing the similar sounding words (such as thirteen and thirty, ten and tenth)
- Learning number bonds and multiplication facts (times tables)
- Fractions, decimals and percentages
- Understanding and remembering the long multiplication and division procedures
- Understanding and using money
- Reading clocks and calculations with time.
but not with number skills.
- Misunderstand some of the mathematical symbols, vocabulary and language.
- Unpicking word problems in maths.
- Difficulties with sequencing and following procedures.
- They forget previously mastered procedures very quickly.