Thursday, February 21, 2008

Dyscalculia

Children with dyscalculia have trouble reading numbers and picturing them in their mind.Dyscalculia can be quantitative, which is a difficulty in counting and calculating; or qualitative, which is a difficulty in the conceptualizing of mathematics processes and spatial sense; or mixed, which is the inability to integrate quantity and space.Dyscalculia is a collection of symptoms of learning disability involving the most basic aspect of arithmetical skills. On the surface, these relate to basic concepts such as: telling the time, calculating prices and handling change, and measuring and estimating things such as temperature and speed.For example, they might mistake a three for an eight because the numbers look similar. They also have trouble counting objects and organizing them by size.Memory is another issue. Children with dyscalculia may not remember the correct order of operations to follow in solving math problems.Difficulties like these can lead to a lifelong fear of mathematics.Experts say students with dyscalculia need extra time to complete their work

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