Identifying and treating difficulties in Math

Published: 28 Apr 2023 Tagged: childrenDyscalculiaearly interventionevaluationMathematicsparentssignsSLPSpeakablespeech language pathologistSpeech Pathologyspeech therapyTutoring

Around the world, a lot of parents have kids that struggle in math. This reality might be overwhelming in the absence of adequate resources or a strong support network. Children who detest math frequently lament that it is too tough or that they are not smart enough. Regrettably, this assumption has a negative effect on any child's ability to succeed in math.

We could point out 12 signs that a child is having relevant difficulties, as follows:

• Makes negative comments about math. When your child attempts to avoid math-related tasks and says things like "I hate math" or "I'm not good at math," it's usually an indication that they are having difficulty with the subject.
• Gets anxious when doing math. Your child becomes more apprehensive when it's time to do math, whether it be in class, on an exam, or when working on a homework assignment.
• Grades that are higher in other subjects but lower in math. Your child excels in every subject, with the exception of math, whether you hear this directly from a teacher or see it on their report card.
• Difficulty linking mathematical families. If your child cannot make the link between, for instance, 2+3=5 and 5-3=2, they may be having difficulty with math.
• Time management issues. Many people, especially adults, struggle with time management, so this warning sign may appear ambiguous. Keep an eye out to see if your child has any difficulties estimating time frames, following fixed schedules, or understanding analogue or digital clocks.
• Difficulty translating mathematical ideas to practical situations. Your child might understand mathematical principles but struggle to recognise how they relate to life outside of the classroom. For instance:
1. calculating the number of days before their birthday
2. figuring how how much something should cost and how much change they should receive in return
3. calculating the appropriate volume of ingredients to use when assisting you in cooking
• Mental difficulty in math. Although while it might be useful in the early years, your child may be having difficulty with math if they solve math problems by counting on their fingers. This is due to the fact that when kids get older, they'll run across higher numbers and more difficult equations that call for mental math skills, which finger counting can inhibit.
• Does not look for other solutions to math problems. Your child can become disheartened when working through a math problem and give up before considering - or attempting - another potential solution.
• Trouble remembering and understanding simple math concepts. Thinking numerically could be significantly impacted by memory. Your child struggles to recall and use basic math facts and ideas even though they have previously been taught to them.
• Difficulty understanding complex mathematical facts and concepts. A child's capacity to embed new mathematical abilities in a meaningful, long-lasting fashion will be constrained if they have trouble building upon earlier mathematical notions.
• Difficulty to pay attention. Your child might be having difficulty with (the specific manner they're performing) math if they become fidgety, get distracted while doing a problem, or appear mentally exhausted.
• Not hitting milestones. Generally, children hit certain math milestones around the same age — but sometimes, they have trouble developing these skills at the same rate and fall behind. Students in 1st and 2nd grade, for example, may struggle as they move on from counting by ones to twos, fives, and tens, while others pick it up with ease.

If you identify one or more of these signs when your child deals with math, it would be important to have a conversation with the teacher and consider testing the child’s learning abilities. The Speakable team is ready to assess and treat learning difficulties of any nature with scientific-proved techniques and treatments.