Dyscalculia and Autism - Autism Parenting Magazine

What is dyscalculia, and why is it important to address this impairment?

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that impacts how individuals understand and work with numbers. While many children struggle with general math difficulties, dyscalculia is a persistent, significant impairment. It affects a child’s ability to learn and apply mathematical concepts despite adequate instruction and support.

While it can occur in individuals with typical development, it is more prevalent in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Addressing math difficulties in autistic children is crucial for their academic success and future adult functioning.

Recognizing dyscalculia

Children with dyscalculia may struggle with various mathematical concepts. Here are some common signs:

Difficulty understanding number concepts (more than, less than)
Struggles with counting or understanding counting concepts
Trouble recognizing and understanding math symbols (+, -, x, ÷)
Difficulty memorizing basic math facts (times tables)
Challenges with mental math
Difficulty telling time
Problems with spatial reasoning
Struggles with understanding and solving word problems
Calculation errors
Reliance on finger counting or other inefficient strategies
Calculation pace is slow
Difficulty understanding or using money and calculating change
Organization issues with math work and lining up numbers
Math anxiety

Below are some other behavioral signs that could indicate a possible math or learning disability:

Asking questions to check understanding more often than other children
Refusing to participate in math class
Low confidence in every area of learning, assuming they’ve misread or misunderstood
High anxiety or refusal to go to school

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Children with Autism

While many understand the significant impact dyslexia has on literacy and learning, the same is not true of dyscalculia. The disorder is far-reaching and anxiety-provoking, not only in math class but in its impact on daily living skills in the real world.

Parents can consult an educational psychologist about their child’s math difficulties for a formal diagnosis. A comprehensive evaluation may involve standardized math tests, cognitive assessments, and observations of the child’s math skills in different settings.

The priority is to assess the extent of the learning problem and then find strategies that will suit the child’s particular learning profile.

The autism-dyscalculia connection

Dyscalculia is more prevalent in children with autism compared to typically developing children. While the exact reasons for this increased prevalence are not fully understood, several potential factors may contribute to the overlap between autism and dyscalculia:

Cognitive overlap: Both autism and dyscalculia can involve differences in cognitive processing, such as challenges with working memory, attention, and executive functions.
Sensory and perceptual differences: Individuals with autism may have sensory sensitivities or differences in perceptual processing, which can affect their understanding and use of numbers. For example, some individuals may have difficulty processing visual or spatial information.
Executive function challenges: Autism is often associated with difficulties in executive functions, including planning, organization, and cognitive flexibility. These skills are also important for mathematical problem-solving and reasoning.

Autism traits may impact mathematical understanding. Some autistic children focus intently on details but struggle to grasp the broader or abstract math concepts. Some may excel at rote memorization but struggle to apply mathematical concepts in different contexts. Some may attempt to mask their difficulties for social reasons.

One way to check for dyscalculia is the same as for dyslexia: I ask if the letters or numbers stay still on the page or move when the child is trying to read. Most children with this issue don’t tell anyone, assuming everyone experiences it.

Impact on daily life and education

Dyscalculia can significantly impact a child’s daily life and education. In terms of daily living, adults with undiagnosed dyscalculia may face challenges in various everyday activities, such as:

Telling time
Counting money and giving change
Measuring ingredients for cooking
Following directions that involve spatial terms (e.g., left, right)
Estimating distances or quantities
Managing personal finances

These difficulties can affect an adult’s ability to achieve independence and their overall quality of life.

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Strategies for supporting children with autism and dyscalculia

Children with autism and dyscalculia need a varied approach addressing their unique needs and strengths. Here are some effective strategies:

Multi-sensory instruction

Multi-sensory teaching methods can be particularly effective. These approaches involve using visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile modalities to teach math concepts.

Visual aids and supports

Offer number lines, graphic organizers, charts, and diagrams. Visual schedules and timers can also help with time management and organization.

Chunk tasks

Break complex math tasks into manageable steps to make them less overwhelming.

Build on strengths and interests

Incorporate strengths and interests in math learning and assessment where possible. For example, if a child is interested in trains, use timetables to teach math concepts like time, distance, and equations.

Real-life applications

Connect math concepts to real-life situations, such as grocery shopping, cooking, or planning a trip, which require the application of math skills.

At-home activities

Some activities parents can do at home that can help with math skills include the following:

Playing board or card games that involve counting, strategy, or problem-solving
Using manipulatives like blocks, beads, or coins for counting and sorting
Incorporating math into everyday routines, such as counting steps while walking or measuring ingredients while cooking

Address anxiety

Teachers can build trust when they refrain from asking public math questions that students cannot answer. Encourage a culture of embracing mistakes for classroom learning, and discuss how everyone’s brain understands and sees information differently. Support curiosity, not perfection.

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)

On your child’s IEP, ask for the following accommodations:

Extra time for math tasks and tests
Preferential seating to minimize distractions
Use of manipulatives or visual aids
Modified assignments or reduced workload
Alternative assessment methods (e.g., oral exams)
Assistive technology (e.g., calculators, math software)

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Calculating it all

Dyscalculia affects many children with autism. It is important to recognize the signs, understand their impact, and implement effective support strategies to achieve success in math and life.

Working together, parents, educators, and professionals can make a difference for children with autism and dyscalculia, fostering their confidence, independence, and overall well-being.

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