Dyscalculia is categorized as a Specific Learning Disability (SLD) by the IDEA.

Difficulty learning to count

Trouble recognizing numbers and math symbols

Difficulty understanding basic math concepts

Difficulty organizing numbers by scale/decimal (10s, 20s, 30s / 0.1, 0.01, 0.001)

*Parents and teachers are usually the first to notice the symptoms.

In Adults:

Uses fingers to count

Trouble understanding graphs or charts

Math anxiety

Trouble understanding simple spoken math equations

The two criteria are:

1) Difficulties mastering number sense, number facts or calculation.

and

2) Difficulties with mathematical reasoning.

There are not any labs, imaging, or diagnostic tests that can confirm dyscalculia.

A child's specific math-related skills are tested to help diagnose someone with dyscalculia. These tests also help rule out vision, hearing, brain, and/or mental health-related conditions.

Most of these children receive their education in traditional settings. Ex: school, homeschool, etc.

Connect math to real life

Use visual aids and manipulatives

Frequent check-ins with student

Provide graph paper for lining up problems

Demonstrate how to focus on one problem by covering the others with a sheet of paper

Test Taking:

Allow plenty of space for problem solving each problem

A quiet room for test-taking

A calculator is provided even if the content does not need to be computed

A limited number of problems on the page

Offer math apps and games to sharpen their skills in a less formal way.

Encouragement and praise for hard work, even if it is less than perfect

Help to identify strengths

Disallow negative self-talk

This article by Dawm Pagliaro-Newman discussed what dyscalculia is, is not, and even how to plan instruction with dyscalculia in mind.

State: dpi.nc.gov

This website provides access to links for teachers of students with disabilities.

Local: https://www.clevelandcountyschools.org/departments/exceptional-children

This website provides an abundance of resources for teachers with children with disabilities.

This resource explains what dyscalculia is, how to get a diagnosis, and helps parents find support in their area and/or online

State: https://www.ecac-parentcenter.org/nc-sip-math-resources-for-familes-of-children-with-disabilities/

Parents can access this page to find the right questions to ask their child's teachers, how to work with the teachers, strategies to support learning challenges, and how to learn to teach math to their children.

Local: https://www.clevelandcountyschools.org/departmens/exceptional-children-resources

This is a great resource for parents to use to keep informed of their rights and responsibilities in the realm of special education.

Jacobson, R., (2025, June 5). How to spot dyscalculia. Child Mind Institute. childmind.org