What are the treatment options for children with Dyscalculia?

A Quick Guide

Dyscalculia is a math learning disability characterized by severe and chronic arithmetic problems and challenges with mathematical concepts and number sense. Treatment options include early intervention, symptom-specific interventions, multisensory instruction to enhance understanding, and medication for co-occurring conditions like ADHD or anxiety. Treatment plans should be tailored to the individual’s symptoms, and ongoing evaluation and re-evaluation are important for effective management.

Understanding Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is often referred to as a math learning disability or a specific learning disorder with a math impairment. The term “dyscalculia” describes a wide range of severe and chronic arithmetic problems, such as challenges using mathematical concepts to solve the issues and problems with number sense. It is the most common phrase for arithmetic and mathematical impairments.

How is the treatment strategy selected?

There are different interventions for dyscalculia with different efficacy. Even though we don’t have any evidence-based treatments for all age groups, depending on the symptoms your mental health professional may make some changes in the treatment plan.

When deciding on the best interventions, additional clinically significant symptoms and diseases that may have an impact on mathematics performance should be taken into consideration. If any such symptoms or disorders exist, it’s critical to determine how closely they are functionally related to dyscalculia such as math anxiety or ADHD. Any coexisting mental disorder must always be taken into account when creating a reasonable treatment strategy.

What are the treatment options for dyscalculia? 

When it comes to treatment, early intervention is most helpful just as in the case of dyslexia. Because the earlier the condition is diagnosed, the earlier the child will learn to adapt to different styles of learning. They may avoid developing any other problems such as anxiety, learning delays, low self-esteem, etc. Moreover, early supportive treatment should be given to preschoolers who are thought to be at risk for developing dyscalculia. Since it has been shown to improve later development of mathematical proficiency and academic success.

Moreover, the treatment plan should be made specifically depending on the symptoms the child is exhibiting. Since symptoms-specific plans tend to work a whole lot better.  Symptom-specific interventions, in which people with dyscalculia are primarily given mathematical tasks to practice, produce noticeably better improvements in all aspects of mathematical skills than those who didn’t have interventions or symptom-specific treatment plans.

Multisensory instruction

To give children numerous ways to develop skills and comprehend concepts, this teaching strategy makes use of sight, touch, hearing, and movement. Children can identify what the numbers and symbols mean with the aid of multisensory math strategies. These methods frequently instruct students on arithmetic ideas in a systematic manner by which their ability builds upon one another.

How does it work?

It is possible to grasp how some mathematical ideas work physically by using things to visualize quantities and also how they vary. Additionally, it can aid in children’s number sense development and help them link their lessons more effectively.

Children need assistance making the connection between actual objects and the signs that symbolize them. Tell them that the number 5 is equivalent to five claps, five blocks, or some other multisensory tool.

Medication

While there is no medication for dyscalculia itself, there are medication options available for any other co-occurring conditions such as ADHD or anxiety.

Lastly, as long as the interprofessional team such as the therapist, teacher, and physician treating the child deems it suitable and essential, treatment should continue. At least once per year, the need for treatment should be re-evaluated. Independent specialists other than the therapist should do follow-up exams that are disorder-specific.

We hope you found the article helpful in learning more about the treatment options for dyscalculia.