A few days ago I told you about "Learning difficulties: dyslalia and dyslexia in children"In that article, I delved deeper into these learning difficulties so you could learn more about them and discover some strategies to help children in their development. But there are other common learning difficulties in school-aged children, and that's why today I want to talk to you about other, different but no less important, topics: dyscalculia y dysgraphia.
From now on, you will be able to assess whether your child exhibits any of these characteristics and detect learning difficultiesand thus offer you the necessary help and support so you can improve your results. Don't miss a thing because dyscalculia and dysgraphia are less well-known than dyslexia and dyslalia, but are no less relevant And, moreover, they are quite common in classrooms.
What are specific learning difficulties?
Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are part of a group of specific learning difficulties of neurological originThis means that the brains of children who experience these conditions process information differently, which has repercussions in specific areas such as reading, writing, or mathematics.
When these difficulties are not recognized, it is easy to label the child as “lazy”, “absentminded” or “disorganized”when in reality they are working much harder than their peers to achieve the same results. The constant criticism, comparisons, and teasing from those around them can create a great drop in self-esteembehavioral problems and rejection of school, as occurs in cases of stressed children and worried families.
Furthermore, these learning difficulties do not disappear on their own. They accompany the person throughout lifeHowever, with appropriate intervention it is possible to minimize its impact, learn compensatory strategies, and achieve good academic and professional performance.
Understanding in depth what dyscalculia and dysgraphia are, how they manifest themselves, and what can be done at home and at school is essential for detect its warning signs early and offer children the support they need.
What is dyscalculia?
La dyscalculia Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty that causes serious problems with math. This difficulty is not as well-known as dyslexia, but it can be just as common. Even so, there are ways to help children with dyscalculia, whether improving their math skills o strengthening your self-esteemIn order to support them properly, it is first necessary to be clear about exactly what it is.
Dyscalculia is a brain condition that It affects the ability to understand and work with numbers and mathematical concepts.It's not a lack of effort or interest; it's a different way of processing numerical information. Some children with dyscalculia cannot understand basic concepts, even if they try very hard to learn and memorize numerical data.
In some cases, the child understands what to do in math class, that is, knows which operation or procedure to apply, but He doesn't understand why he does it.He fails to grasp the logic of the mathematical process. In other cases, the opposite occurs: he understands the logic of mathematics but is unsure of how or when to apply that knowledge to solve concrete problems.
It is common for these children to have difficulties with learn to countThey may struggle to memorize multiplication tables, use mathematical symbols correctly, or understand concepts like "greater than," "less than," quantities, measurements, or the use of money. They may also have trouble understanding time, schedules, or daylight saving time changes, which affects their autonomy in daily life.
Normally these children They don't usually have problems in other subjects. that have nothing to do with mathematics. They can be very good at readingscience, drawing, music, or sports, but become completely blocked by a simple operation. This marked difference between subjects often causes anxiety, frustration, and low self-esteem.
The good news is that parents and teachers have a key role: with an understanding approach and appropriate strategies, it is possible reduce the emotional impact and offer tools to help the child progress. Dyscalculia is a lifelong condition, but this doesn't mean your child can't be happy or successful; it means they need another way to learn mathematics and other types of support.
Types of dyscalculia and common manifestations
Within dyscalculia, the following are described: different profiles according to the most affected mathematical areas. Knowing these helps to better understand what is happening to the child and what kind of help they may need.
- Verbal dyscalculia: difficulties in naming numbers, quantities and symbolsThe child knows what number he sees, but has difficulty saying it out loud or remembering its name.
- Lexical dyscalculia: problems for to correctly read numerical and mathematical symbols. You may confuse 6 with 9, 3 with 8, or signs like +, −, ×, ÷.
- Graphic dyscalculia: difficulty to write numbers and symbols in an orderly and legible manner, which leads to errors even if the reasoning is correct.
- Practognostic dyscalculia: problems for counting, comparing and manipulating objects with numerical sense (for example, dividing cookies equally).
- Ideo-diagnostic dyscalculia: difficulties in Understanding mathematical concepts and relationships such as greater/lesser, before/after, part/whole.
- Operational dyscalculia: great difficulty for perform mathematical operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) even with visual support.
In practice, these types often overlap. That's why it's so important to have one. detailed professional assessment that allows us to see in which specific points the child has the most difficulty and, from there, design an adapted intervention plan.
Causes of dyscalculia and diagnosis
The causes of dyscalculia are related to differences in brain function in the areas that process numbers and spatial reasoning. It does not depend on the child's will or poor teaching, although an ill-adjusted educational environment can exacerbate the difficulties.
To diagnose dyscalculia, a complete psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluation, which values:
- School and family history from the child, teacher reports and observation of his performance in mathematics.
- Standardized tests of mathematical calculation and reasoning adapted to their age and grade.
- Assessment of other cognitive areas such as memory, language, attention, or reading, to rule out other difficulties or see if they are combined.
- General intellectual capacitysince dyscalculia is not due to a global intellectual disability.
With all this information, the professional determines whether the criteria for a specific learning disorder in mathematicsIt establishes the diagnosis and proposes educational and intervention recommendations.
How to help a child with dyscalculia
To help a child with dyscalculia, it will be very important for both parents and educational professionals to work together. join forces To achieve good results. Once a professional has diagnosed dyscalculia, it's time to look for the best solutions so the child feels capable of facing mathematical challengeseven though he/she may have greater difficulty understanding than other children with the same developmental level.
It is likely that things will need to be done starting at school. informal adaptations (or formal, if the education system so provides) to guarantee mathematical learning taking into account the child's needs. Some useful measures are:
- Allow more time on exams and homework of mathematics.
- Use manipulative material (tokens, blocks, rods, coins) to represent quantities.
- Offer step by step explanations and in writing, with worked examples.
- Use visual aids such as charts, diagrams, and multiplication tables visible in the classroom.
- Rate the reasoning process of the child and not just the final result.
Every kid is a world And it is necessary to know how he should be specifically cared for in order to develop his full potential.
From home, it will be essential trust in the child's abilities and don't pressure him so that he can do more than he is currently capable of. It is important that he experiences learning mathematics firsthand. as a game and not as a punishmentSome ideas for the home are:
- Introducing mathematics into everyday situations (distribute food, count steps, measure ingredients, use the clock).
- Use board games that include counting squares, adding points, or handling play money.
- Lean on applications and digital resources adapted, provided they are clear, structured and do not overwhelm the child.
- Reinforce any small advance with praise focused on effortnot only in the result.
It might also be a good idea to contact a psychopedagogue, speech therapist or neuropsychologist specialized in learning difficulties to support the improvement process with a systematic intervention plan.
What is dysgraphia
If your child has trouble expressing themselves in writing, you may want to learn more about the dysgraphiaWriting difficulties are common in children and can sometimes be related to attention problems, other learning difficulties, or still-developing development. It's important for parents to understand why their children may be struggling with writing so they can seek the necessary help.
Dysgraphia can last a lifetime, but there are strategies and therapies With appropriate professional help, a child can improve their handwriting. This can make a significant difference in their academic performance and their ability to... express yourself in writing with trust.
Therefore, dysgraphia is a condition that causes problems in written expression related to brain development and fine motor skillsTherefore, it has nothing to do with the child being lazy or careless. For a child with dysgraphia, writing with a pencil and organizing the letters, maintaining a uniform size, and respecting the margins or the line can be very difficult; that's why writing is often uncomfortable and tiring for them.
Most doctors, psychologists, and learning specialists will refer to this difficulty as “alteration in written expression” or “specific learning disability” in writing. It is important to understand that slow, careless handwriting or handwriting with spelling errors It is not always a sign of dysgraphiaIt can also be the result of a normal learning process or a lack of practice. The difference lies in the persistence, intensity and impact despite the difficulties and adequate teaching.
Writing requires a complex set of fine motor skills and language processingFor children with dysgraphia, the writing process is more difficult and slower; without the necessary help, problems can appear in almost all school areas, since many tasks are evaluated in writing (exams, essays, exercises, group work, etc.).
How does dysgraphia manifest itself?
Children with dysgraphia often exhibit handwriting difficult to read, disorganized, or very irregularAmong the most frequently observed signs are:
- Letter barely legible, which constantly changes size or goes off the lines.
- Difficulty holding the pencil correctly, with too much or too little pressure on the paper.
- Body and hand position inadequate or very tense in writing.
- Lack of spaces between words, a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters in the same word.
- Very poor spelling, even in words that the child knows orally.
- Very slow typingwhich makes it difficult for him to finish exercises or copy from the board on time.
- difficulties for organize the ideas in writingeven though she is able to express them well orally.
It is important to differentiate dysgraphia from the written expression disorders purely linguistic. In dysgraphia, the motor aspect (the “how” of writing) plays a significant role, while in written expression disorders, the main problem lies in how ideas are structured and formulated in languageHowever, in daily life they often coexist and require complementary interventions.
How to help a child with dysgraphia
Schools should help children with dysgraphia improve their learning and development in writing with a specific attention and appropriate adaptationsIn this way, the child can receive the necessary help to work on their difficulties without this implying punishment or humiliation in front of their classmates.
In order for the school to assess and implement these measures, it will be necessary that dysgraphia is present. evaluated and recognized by a professional (educational psychologist, speech therapist, pediatric neurologist, etc.). From there, support can be implemented such as:
- Give more time for written assignments and exams.
- Allow on occasion oral responses or by computer, instead of requiring extensive handwriting.
- Divide the tasks into small stepseach one well explained.
- Offer graphic organizers (outlines, mind maps, templates) to structure ideas before writing.
- Facilitate notes from the teacher or a classmate to reduce the burden of copying from the whiteboard.
- Authorize the use of assistive technology (word processor, speech-to-text programs, spell checkers).
Dysgraphia can also be addressed from home. The most important thing is to contact a professional. educational psychologist or occupational therapist to facilitate strategies and work with the child regularly, monitoring their progress. At home, the work should have a playful and motivating character so that the child feels that writing, besides being necessary, can be fun.
Some suggestions for everyday life at home are:
- practice the fine motor with activities such as cutting, playdough, stringing beads, and small construction games.
- Playing at “writing” with other materials: sand, shaving foam, finger paintmagnetic whiteboards, etc.
- Propose small writing tasks with meaning for the child: shopping lists, notes for a family member, labels for their toys.
- Allow the use of ergonomic pencils or special grips that facilitate grip.
- To value more the idea that conveys that the aesthetic quality of the lettering, especially at the beginning.
Relationship between dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia
Dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are specific learning difficulties that share the same “family”although they affect different abilities. It is relatively common for a single child to present more than one of these difficulties at the same time, which is known as comorbidity.
For example, a child with dyslexia (reading difficulty) may also have dysgraphia, making reading and writing very challenging. Similarly, a child with dyscalculia may have trouble reading the wording of math problems, further complicating the process.
These difficulties may also be accompanied by attention problems, anxiety, or low self-esteemand factors such as sleep problemsAll of this means that diagnosis and intervention require a multidisciplinary approach, in which the family, the school, and health and education professionals participate.
Global support strategies for children with learning difficulties
Beyond specific adaptations for dyscalculia or dysgraphia, there are a number of general principles that help children with learning difficulties feel more confident and improve their performance:
- To favor a growth mentalityreminding the child that their skills can improve with practice, support, and time.
- Avoid negative labels and comparisons with siblings or peers, focusing instead on their personal progress.
- Keep a fluid communication between family and school to unify criteria and strategies.
- To value and enhance the child's strengths (creativity, visual memory, social skills, artistic talent, etc.).
- Request, when possible, a complete psycho-pedagogical assessment to fully understand their needs and design a support plan.
Understanding what dyscalculia and dysgraphia are, recognizing their early signs, and knowing that effective tools exist to support children makes a huge difference in their development. emotional and academic well-beingWith a respectful approach, realistic expectations, and close collaboration between family, school, and professionals, these children can develop their abilities, feel valued, and build a much healthier relationship with learning.
