Skip to main content

Children with Math Difficulties, Could Be Experiencing Dyscalculia



Your child's academic grades are fine in other subjects, but why does Math always make him uneasy? For that one lesson, the grades are always below average. As if he did not understand all the explanations of his teacher. What really happened?

The study found that about 7% of children who sit in elementary school (SD) have dyscalculia or have difficulty learning mathematics. Dyscalculia makes it difficult for children to understand Mathematics, due to certain conditions in the brain. Although it turns out more often experienced by children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), but dyscalculia is not a mental disorder, Mother. Let's get to know more.

Recognize Children with Dyscalculia



Mother might wonder what is causing dyscalculia. The cause is unknown. However, this is thought to be due to developmental disorders in the area of ​​the brain that processes information in the form of numbers. This needs to be distinguished from children who are weak in Mathematics because they do not have the support of facilities, cognitive impairment, or other behavioral disorders.

Not only from the value of low Mathematics lessons, Mother can recognize children with dyscalculia showing traits such as:

  • Panicking every time I meet Mathematics. Even he can also be anxious or disappointed if you find a game or game that requires numeracy skills.

  • When other children their age no longer count on their fingers, children with dyscalculia may still do so.

  • It's hard to estimate the size, like how tall something is, or how long it will take to travel from one place to another.

  • Difficult to understand basic mathematical calculations, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

  • Difficult to connect between numbers with words that represent them (1 with ‘one’).

  • Difficult to count money and change.

  • Difficulty reading hours and remembering combinations of numbers such as telephone numbers.

  • Difficulty following gradual instructions.

  • Difficult to recognize patterns.

  • Confused by similar numbers, such as 75 and 57.

  • It could be that today he could work on Math problems, but tomorrow he completely forgot how.


Accompanying Children with Dyscalculia



If indeed your child looks very behind in mathematics, you should not rush to assume he has dyscalculia, Mother. It is better to check with your child to see a doctor to know the possibility of other disorders, such as vision or hearing problems, which may make it difficult to understand the teacher's explanation.

If it is suspected that your child has dyscalculia, then the pediatrician will refer to the doctor with related expertise, to be tested. Generally the tests carried out include the ability of mathematics, fluency or ability to count, and the ability to understand words. Maybe the child will be referred to consult a mental health specialist for growth and development, or the child psychologist if necessary.

Some of the things below can be a guide Mother to accompany them:

  • Recognize the right learning style



  • This is expected to help him learn Mathematics with another approach. Using objects that can be seen and touched may help children understand the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Let your child use paper and fingers to count, even if the other child has not done it. In addition, Mother can invite him to play games that involve Mathematics. Music can also be used to teach Mathematics.

  • Discuss this condition with the teacher at school



  • Mother and teacher can work together to find the right solution, such as giving additional lessons. If necessary, children get extra time to do assignments and tests at school. Generally, children need to learn in a quiet place without things that can break their concentration.

  • Praise every child's effort



  • Even though he hasn't achieved the maximum results, always give praise every time he tries hard.

  • Helps children manage anxiety



  • Mother can help children accept their weaknesses, and recognize and support their strengths in other fields. Encourage children to talk about this, so that it can help him manage the anxiety he feels.

Do not label children who are less able to take Math lessons, as a stupid kid, Mother. With the right assistance, children with dyscalculia can overcome the problem, while still developing their abilities in other fields.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Difficult Nursing Babies Can Be Caused By Tongue-tie, This Is The Way To Overcome It

According to doctors and nurses, the baby's mouth position is correct when feeding. There's also no problem with your nipples. However, the nipples still feel pain when breastfeeding and your baby cannot suck the milk properly. There is a possibility that the baby will experience tongue-tie. Tongue-tie is a congenital condition in infants that makes the tongue unable to move freely because the tongue frenulum is short, thick or or bound to the floor of the mouth. The tongue frenulum is a thin tissue that connects the tongue to the floor of the mouth. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, although some cases of tongue-tie are known to be related to genetic or hereditary factors. Tongue-tie is experienced by around 5% of newborns, and is more often experienced by male babies. Recognize the characteristics of Tongue-tie Characteristics of babies experiencing tounge-tie is difficult to stick out the tongue and suckle. Then it can also affect the baby's ability to eat, t...

Mother, This is How to Prevent a Newborn from Staying Up all night

Mothers who have just given birth, do not be surprised if a new baby can make irregular hours of sleep, even staying up all night. If the mother used to sleep soundly all night, then now must follow the sleep patterns of babies who often wake up every 2-3 hours to suckle. Of course this is very tiring. But, there are tips for training babies to sleep more regularly. Actually, newborn sleep patterns that are not regular are normal because the baby is getting used to the new world outside the mother's womb. Generally sleep patterns like this occur in the first 1-2 months. After infants aged 3 months and over, the baby's sleep hours will become more regular following an adult's sleep patterns as the brain develops. Tips for Practicing Baby Sleep Patterns Practicing baby sleep patterns to be more organized can be done earlier, that is, after one month of baby's age. Besides being beneficial for babies, of course this can also help you get adequate rest. Here are the ways th...