Jan03

How to Detect Dyscalculia

In today’s post, we explain how to detect dyscalculia in children and adults with the help of the free Smartick test and subsequent confirmation from a specialist in learning disabilities.

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to perform mathematical calculations. People with dyscalculia may have difficulty understanding basic math concepts, such as multiplication tables or using slide rules, and may have trouble solving math problems. Dyscalculia can also affect a person’s ability to measure distances or time, or to understand the concept of quantity.

Dyscalculia often manifests itself during childhood or adolescence and can last a lifetime, but with the right support, people with dyscalculia can improve their mathematical skills and learn to manage their difficulties.

Diagnosis: How to detect dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is diagnosed after an evaluation by a mental health professional or a specialist in learning disorders. The assessment may include a review of the individual’s academic history and mathematics performance, as well as formal tests of mathematical skills and assessments of understanding of basic mathematical concepts. Tests related to attention, memory and other cognitive skills may also be performed to rule out other possible causes of difficulty in learning mathematics.

It is important to keep in mind that dyscalculia is a very heterogeneous disorder and can manifest itself in different ways in different people. Therefore, it is important that care is taken in the diagnosis and takes into account the individual’s particular history and context.

If you suspect that a child may have dyscalculia because he or she is experiencing significant difficulties in learning mathematics, you try the Smartick dyscalculia test for free. It is important to note that the Smartick dyscalculia test does not provide an official diagnosis of dyscalculia, but is a standardised screening test that demonstrates whether a person is at risk of having dyscalculia. A positive result requires a visting a specialist to confirm the assessment and establish an intervention programme for improvement.

Can Dyscalculia be Diagnosed in Adults?

Although dyscalculia often manifests itself during childhood or adolescence, it may not be detected or identified as a learning disability until adulthood. Some people may not have had significant difficulties with mathematics during primary and secondary school, but may begin to have problems when faced with more advanced concepts in higher education or at work.

If an adult suspects that he or she may have dyscalculia or is having significant difficulties with mathematics, it may be helpful to consult a professional for an appropriate assessment and diagnosis.

When is the Best Time to Detect Dyscalculia?

It is best to detect dyscalculia as early as possible, as this can allow the implementation of appropriate interventions and curricular adaptations to help the individual overcome their difficulties in learning mathematics. Dyscalculia often manifests itself during childhood or adolescence, so it is important to be aware of possible signs of difficulty in learning mathematics at these stages. Some Warning Signs of Dyscalculia Include:

Difficulty in understanding basic mathematical concepts, such as multiplication tables or the rules of calculation.
Problems solving mathematical operations.
Difficulty measuring distances or times.
Difficulty understanding the concept of quantity.
Underachievement in mathematical tasks and assessments compared to other subjects.

If you notice any of these warning signs or have any concerns about a child’s or adolescent’s mathematics performance, it is important to get a proper assessment and diagnosis.

With the right support and intervention, many people with dyscalculia can improve their mathematical skills and manage their learning difficulties.

The Smartick dyscalculia test is key in the detection of dyscalculia, as it provides information on the risk of having dyscalculia. Do not hesitate to complete it and find out how to proceed based on the results. It is free of charge and includes a very complete report, sent via e-mail, with a risk assessment (to be confirmed by a professional), detailed profile of the child in different mathematical areas and information on how to interpret the results.

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Hiwet Costa

Hiwet holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Trieste and is an expert in learning disorders. She is the co-founder of Happy Mind Training, a clinic specialized in intervention for mathematical learning difficulties. She is also a part of the diversity support team at Smartick. Currently, she collaborates with the Numerical Cognition Lab at the University of Málaga on projects related to intervention and assessment of dyscalculia.