Before exploring dyscalculia symptoms, you’ll need to understand that dyscalculia is a specific neurological learning difference that affects the brain’s ability to understand, process, and work with numbers. Research shows differences in the part of the brain that gives people an innate “number sense” (an automatic sense for quantities, relationships between numbers, estimating, and spatial reasoning).
What is dyscalculia?
It affects roughly 5% of the population and often co-occurs with dyslexia (which is exactly why my Orton-Gillingham background makes this such a natural fit for the families I serve). I became familiar with dyscalculia when a family asked if I could help their dyslexic son with math. As a student, I loved math and was pretty good at it (up until Calculus in college, but I’ll save those details for another time) so I was happy to. I quickly observed multiple dyscalculia symptoms and realized that this was more than simply explaining a concept in a different way. I first spotted the dyscalculia symptoms, then needed to better understand his difficulties and finally discovered how best to address them.
In my research on dyscalculia symptoms, I discovered that many of the dyscalculia experts are British. These include Brian Butterworth who is considered a pioneer on the subject, Steven Chin, Jane Emerson who established the Emerson House just to name a few. Many of the books on the subject are from these individuals. That is not to minimize researchers and teachers from other nations. In fact, I would like to provide a shout out to Chris Woodin in the US who taught for 30+ years at Landmark School in Massachusetts and offers workshops on dyscalculia (I recently attended one.)
Dyscalculia Symptoms
Let me share common dyscalculia symptoms parents and teachers notice in children with dyscalculia. These become more obvious as the math demands increase each year:
- Trouble connecting a number to the actual quantity. For example, a student may not know that 4 means four objects
- Difficulty recognizing numbers and math symbols. A student mixes the plus sign for the multiplication sign.
- Struggling to use a number line or understand place value
- Problems using money including counting coins, making change, or understanding cost
- Difficulty telling time on an analog clock or estimating how long something will take
- Trouble memorizing and retrieving basic math facts (addition, subtraction, times tables)
- Challenges with subitizing which is a students ability to identify how many items are in a small group without counting
- Difficulty with word problems, graphs, charts, or any math that involves spatial reasoning or patterns
- Avoiding games that involve counting or strategy (Uno, board games, card games)
If any of these dyscalculia symptoms sound painfully familiar, you are not alone. Dyscalculia exists on a continuum from mild to severe, just like dyslexia. That means each child is unique and the speed at which you can proceed will vary. The challenges are ongoing and not something they will grow out of.
The good news?
With early, structured, multisensory intervention, the same kind we use in literacy, kids can build strong foundational skills, slash anxiety, and develop the confidence they deserve. The key is to identify where the foundation is weak and work to solidify that foundation. Sometimes that means going all the way back to the beginning. And I mean the beginning!
5 Books on Dyscalculia
There are shelves upon shelves of dyscalculia book (all sharing dyscalculia symptoms) which can feel overwhelming. So, consider these 5 books a starting point. The list highlights different authors rather than recommend multiple books by the same author. You are not the first parent on this journey, so I encourage you to learn from those who have come before you.
That is why the first book that I am going to recommend is:
- Discovering Dyscalculia by Laura M. Jackson
Laura’s daughter is severely dyscalculic. She was diagnosed in the 5th grade, and Laura shares her very personal journey in this book. She includes dyscalculia symptoms she noticed in her daughter. This heartfelt memoir takes you through diagnosis, school advocacy, and everyday life with dyscalculia. It’s a book about hope and spoiler alert; after much work, her daughter found a way to understand math well enough to do tackle algebra and geometry in high school. Her daughter is currently off to college. The book shares the emotional rollercoaster you might be feeling right now. Best of all, it provides real-world strategies for navigating IEPs, daily routines, and building resilience. I devoured it and strongly believe this is the first book you should start with. I met Laura and she is a generous, caring individual who wants to increase awareness for all-things dyscalculia. You can find her at discoveringdyscalculia.com.
- The Dyscalculia Toolkit by Ronit Bird
This book is packed with 200+ hands-on activities, games, and multisensory strategies for ages 6-14. The experts call this the “go-to practical bible” because it gives you ready-to-use tools you can implement at home to strengthen number sense. This book is perfect for parents who want to help their child immediately. In fact, the author tells the reader to not read the book from start to finish, rather to use it as a reference book. Look up and focus on a topic. Ronit Bird has several math ebooks (by topic) that are worth exploring. The only caveat is that they need to be followed in order. It’s about creating and building upon a solid foundation (which is lacking in many dyscalculics. These books are:
a) Exploring Numbers through Dot Patterns
b) Exploring Numbers Through Cuisenaire Rods
c) Understanding Times Tables
d) Understanding Fractions
- The Dyscalculia Solution by Jane Emerson and Patricia Babtie
If you’re looking for lesson plans, this is the perfect book. It’s a step-by-step guide to teaching numeracy using concrete materials, verbal reasoning, and visual aids. I personally use this because it moves beyond understanding the problem of dyscalculia to detailing actual lesson plans. Let’s face it, I love knowing the why, but then it’s time to move on to the how. This book provides me with exactly what to teach a student. It’s divided into ten sections that establish an excellent foundation of numeracy. Each lesson builds upon the previous lesson and the amount of time you spend, depends upon your child. There are games for practice which is a wonderful way for students to internalize the information. It’s a must have for a parent teaching numeracy.
- Dyscalculia: From Research to Education by Brian Butterworth
Brian Butterworth is a pioneering researcher in the field of dyscalculia. This book is a bit geeky and not for everyone. The title includes the word “research” which says it all. It’s not a big tome coming in around 200 pages, but it’s anything but a fast read, and you’ll need a notebook to take notes as you read it. You’ll find detailed dyscalculia symptoms and the book discusses cutting-edge neuroscience for the parent who want the “why” behind their child’s challenges. I read it to better understand the neurological elements of dyscalculia and effective interventions. You’ll have a better understanding of how the dyscalculic brain differs from the neurotypical one. The book includes a resources section organized by country, in case you want to go down the rabbit hole. If you have some extra time, you’ll want to focus on the policy section. Awareness for dyscalculia is decades behind awareness for dyslexia, which is decades behind awareness for autism. Encouraging policy changes in educational systems, and other societal institutions is one way to increase awareness and generate change.
- The Trouble with Maths by Steve Chinn
A practical guide to diagnosing math difficulties, reducing anxiety, and building confidence with targeted interventions. The book was written for teachers and assistants to support students struggling with math. There is a section on communicating math concepts in a clear, precise fashion. I recommend it for its clear framework that may help you spot where the breakdowns are happening for your child and how to fix them.
What is Dyscalculia?
These 5 books will get you started on understanding what is dyscalculia and finding interventions for someone who is dyscalculic.
All the books highlight materials that you’ll need to work with your child. Be creative! With one student who was traveling at one point, we used Skittles for a few virtual sessions while learning dot patterns. Try different options. Your child may not love dots but respond well to cuisenaire rods. These are rectangular shaped pieces that provide hands on manipulation to help make numerical concepts concrete. Use the wooden one by Learning Resources along with 1cm graph paper. Make sure you purchase the 1cm version and not the inch-based graph paper. The centimeter graph paper lines up with the cuisenaire rods.
These books and materials align perfectly with the Orton-Gillingham multisensory philosophy we use at The Literacy Keys. Remember, your child’s brain is wired differently but with the right tools and your love, they’ll do incredible things.
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