Developing Numeracy Skills
Some people with dyslexia have problems with numeracy also. For some their difficulties are due to the literacy of maths, difficulty recalling tables or maths facts due to memory difficulties, or sometimes confusion of maths symbols. However, some individuals have dyscalculia, a specific learning disability with maths, which affects their number sense and ability to grasp mathematical concepts. Concrete learning is very important but software can help some individuals also.
Maths software programmes provide opportunity to practise arithmetic skills and reinforce maths concepts. Numbershark, Number Gym, MathsBase, Mathmania, the BBC Maths Workshop Series, and the Maths Circus Series are all useful programmes.
Learning how to use a calculator and also simple spreadsheets can also aid the performance of calculations. Calculation applications on mobile phones can also be very useful.
Learning tables can be particularly challenging for people with dyslexia as it involves memory and sequencing, areas which are often weak. Tables to music are available commercially – these can help some students. Software programmes to help learn tables are also available, both for computer and as mobile phone apps.
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