For some people, numbers and numbers represent a living hell: they hardly navigate in measures, for example, weight or length; they find it difficult to perform the simplest mathematical calculations and prove theorems. But this does not mean that such people have a low level of intelligence - they just have dyscalculia.
Dyscalculia in a broad sense is an inability to learn arithmetic and mathematics. According to specialists from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital of Munich (LMU), 3-7% of all children, adolescents and adults suffer from dyscalculia.
Professor Gerd Schulte-Kerne defines dyscalculia as a "mathematical disorder" with a violation of four skills: understanding the concept of "number", the essence of arithmetic concepts, the process of solving simple problems and the ability to logical abstract reasoning.
According to scientists, "persistent difficulty in completing arithmetic tasks leads to problems in school, at work and in everyday life, and increases the risk of associated psychological disorders." This means that a person (child or adult) who is strong in other subjects or areas has been fighting for years with numbers, math, abacus, sums.
For them, a lot is a problem, for example, baking a cake, because the recipe says “200 grams of flour”, but they have no idea what it is.
Specialists work with dyscalculia, correct its consequences. However, the article notes, "the new knowledge gained during this time has not been systematically integrated into medical, psychological, educational, therapeutic and educational practice." Moreover, scientists still have different opinions about the nature of the development of dyscalculia. However, they all agree on one thing: “specialized assistance should be provided early in the education, even in primary school, and should be provided by trained professionals on an individual basis”.
Author: Natalia Panasenko