What is dyscalculia, and why is it an overlooked mental health challenge?
“Dyscalculia is a term used to describe specific learning disabilities that affect a child’s ability to understand, learn, and perform math and number-based operations,” according to the Child Mind Institute. “It’s estimated that between 5 and 7 percent of elementary-age children may have dyscalculia. As well as dyscalculia, disorders like dyslexia, visual or auditory processing, ADHD, and others can also impact a child’s ability to accurately complete math problems.” I should point out these challenges can affect both youth and adults.
I first learned about dyscalculia from Marina London, a licensed clinical social worker who served as editorial consultant for my book Climbing Out of Darkness: A Personal Journey into Mental Wellness.
In it, I described the good grades I got in college – with the exception of algebra. I wrote, “Why did I have so much trouble ‘connecting the dots’ in math?” mentioning that my sister also struggled with this subject when she was in school.
I had three tutors and I know I tried their patience just to earn a passing grade in College Algebra 101. They were perplexed at my inability to understand their instructions. “Don’t you get that, Mike?” they’d ask. I’d shake my head and say, “No. I’m sorry, I don’t.”
Math involves progressing from one step to the next, and when you don’t understand how the different steps work to arrive at an answer, it’s like being stuck in mud. This trying experience in my early twenties was like revisiting the horrors of my middle school days when I failed the subject and my math teacher told me I should not pursue this subject in high school. My difficulties in algebra affected my shaky self-esteem since it was a required course for obtaining a bachelor’s degree. I wondered if I needed to abandon this pursuit.”
But I was able to conquer my fears. I recalled how overjoyed I was when my hard work and patient tutors paid off and I earned a C in algebra. I was prouder of that C than many of the As and Bs I received in college!
Later, as an older adult, the specific issue was no longer algebra, but I still had a hard time completing math problems that were easy for many of my peers. I wondered why I still struggled so much in this area. Marina had a possible answer, which I believe was the correct one.
“It sounds like you and your sister may have both had a learning difficulty/disability such as dyscalculia and you may also have had a touch of a visual spatial processing issue. Impossible to know without specialized testing, she wrote.
“Baby Boomers did not receive much help with these problems whereas a child with these issues today would be referred for an educational assessment and special ed services if needed,” Marina added.
Sadly, this was all too true. A harsh statement from a teacher like, “You’re not trying hard enough” was the predominant thinking when I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s. A poor grade sometimes meant staying in for recess, even though the teacher usually left you to figure out math problems on your own. “How was I supposed to correct my work when I got it wrong the first time?” I wrote in my book.
If I struggled that much in math, and may have had an undiagnosed learning disability, perhaps this post can help a child or adult who be facing some of these same issues. The reader can learn more about dyscalculia at https://childmind.org/article/how-to-spot-dyscalculia/
Like math, driving also involves understanding how to get from one step (starting at one location) to the next. This is sometimes referred to as someone having “a poor sense of direction.” I wondered if the two could be related? After doing some research, it turns out that dyscalculia can pose problems in areas other than math.
Driving a car may seem simple, but it involves a lot of cognitive processes, A person with dyscalculia may have difficulty concentrating and be easily distracted. There may be issues with sequencing, making it difficult to put information in the right order. The person may struggle to understand and read signs. There may also be problems with visual memory. Perhaps that explains why I have difficulty remembering how to drive from one given point to another unless I’ve driven the same route many times. I may still forget the route if I have not driven it in a while.
Since each of these areas is important in safely driving a vehicle, it is easy to see how someone with a neurological disorder like dyscalculia would have a much more difficult time driving than a non-affected driver. I even read that some people suffering from this affliction will try to avoid driving completely. But this is nearly impossible in rural areas like where I live that lack public transportation.
Driving requires so much concentration that I will find any excuse possible to avoid a road trip longer than 100 miles. Who wants to admit this reluctance to a male friend when we are supposedly the gender that are the better drivers. I even have friends who can safely drive over 500 miles and without a break!
And yet, when I was in my early twenties, I thought that I was destined to live and work in a large city. With problems like the ones I spoke of, I am grateful God had other plans for my life! I live happily with my wife in a village of just over 1,000, and I seldom have to drive to (or in) a city larger than 70,000. Even then, I’m probably with another person who can spell me at the wheel. When longer trips are unavoidable, thank goodness for airplanes!
In addition, in this disturbing day and age, I am grateful that I live in a quiet, peaceful community free from the traffic, noise, and other distractions I’d have in a large city.
Driving can still prove difficult, but God is always there for guidance. Proverbs 3: 5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. And lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Here is an example. Journalists are often asked to cover fires, automobile accidents, and other mishaps. As a result, in my first reporting job out of college, I knew I needed to become familiar with the local roads. I jumped in my car on a fall afternoon. I didn’t mind not knowing where I was driving at first, but when it started getting dark and I couldn’t remember how to get back to town, I was scared and said a quick prayer. Within minutes, I saw a sign for one of the few highways I was familiar with. I knew how to get back! I sighed and took a deep breath.
And yet, over time I’ve learned to take heart in my shortcomings. Romans 5:3-4a states. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us – they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us.”
Indeed they do. In summary, while depression, anxiety and even a potentially undiagnosed disorder like dyscalculia can prove difficult, as I am thankful for where I live and what I’ve learned in overcoming challenges.
No one reading this post should consider any of the information presented as a substitute for professional advice or consultation. Diagnosis of a behavioral disorder requires a thorough assessment, one that only a licensed specialized professional is qualified to make.
Mike Jacquart is the author of “Climbing Out of Darkness: A Personal Journey into Mental Wellness,” available online at https://www.amazon.com/Climbing-out-Darkness-Personal-Wellness/dp/B0BQ58KJH4. He dedicates this post to his late Fresh Hope cofacilitator, Mike Gutho. A retired magazine editor, Mike enjoys sharing his story of “pushing through” on blog posts, podcasts, and other presentations. For more information, contact him at michaeljacquart8@gmail.com.
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