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Original poster

Dyscalculia

15 replies

MissDuke · 13/04/2013 15:39

I posted in special needs too, so apologies if you see this twice!

Hi everyone, I have posted here before about my 8 year old dd. She has been referred for an ASD assessment by the community paed.

School are far from helpful, so I paid for an Ed Psych assessment. I don't have the full report yet, so don't know her scores, but the Ed Psych basically said that dd's reading, comprehension, literacy etc is fantastic. She tested her reading using up to age 12 resources and dd flew through it no problem, including answering comprehension questions. The Ed Psych was horrified that dd is in one of the lower reading groups. However maths was another story. Basically, the Ed Psych said dd would be in the top group of children for reading, but right at the bottom for maths. She said this wide a gulf is very unusual, and dd is quite complex.

I won't get the report for a couple of weeks. Basically I am wondering what I can reasonably expect from the school? The Ed Psych is asking the school to move her to the top reading group as she feels it will help her confidence, but I don't think the school will comply, there must be a reason they have her in a lower group?

Her school don't do any numeracy withdrawal - only literacy - so say they cannot give her anything extra. Is this typical, or are the school being unreasonable?

The Ed Psych says she believes that she has dyscalculia, is this likely to be part of the ASD in your experience?

Thanks if you managed to get through all that, I would appreciate any thoughts as I can't really get my head around this yet x

OP posts:
mrz · 13/04/2013 16:24

Did the community paediatrician explain what will happen in the ASD assessment? It varies from area to area but in general involves a multidisciplinary team which includes an Ed Psych.

trinity0097 · 13/04/2013 17:03

Being dyscaulic has nothing to do with ASD, plenty of NT children also suffer with difficulties with Maths.

I would expect some kind of numeracy support, there have been lots of government programmes for catch up maths.

mrz · 13/04/2013 17:10

Untrue trinity dyscalculia is often a co-morbidity of ASD
www.autism-help.org/comorbid-dyscalculia-autism.htm

teacherwith2kids · 13/04/2013 17:33

That's really interesting, mrz.

Most of the children and adults I know who have been diagnosed with high-functioning ASD / Asperger's have unusually strong maths skills, so I have definitely learned something today - thanks.

foofooyeah · 13/04/2013 18:15

My son has dyslexia and dyscalculia, he gets extra help everyday at school. The school is being unreasonable and I sggest you take it further. I did have to pursue the school to get extra help.

trinity0097 · 13/04/2013 20:41

Would have been nice to have been told that on the course I was on recently all about dyscaulia!

Original poster
MissDuke · 13/04/2013 21:42

Thanks everyone.

Mrz, I haven't been told yet who will assess dd. I know a physio and SALT are coming into the school soon to see her, and then hubby and I go and complete a huge set of forms apparently. I am not sure who else sees dd after that.

This Ed Psych said she could see ASD traits in DD (stimming - flapping, humming, etc and her literal thinking and inflexibility, poor eye contact) but she also commented that her comprehension is better than she would expect from a child with ASD. She said she thinks dd is very complex, and a diagnosis will not be easy.

I am a little confused about how a diagnosis of dyscalculia is reached, the Ed Psych seemed to imply it was based on the large difference between her literacy and IQ, and her maths. Does that sound about right?

Though I don't suppose it really matters whether she has it or not, so long as the school now recognise she is having huge problems with maths.

OP posts:
Original poster
MissDuke · 13/04/2013 21:44

I meant to add, I will post again when I get the report, to beg some help understanding the scores etc lol!

OP posts:
mrz · 13/04/2013 21:47

dyscalculia is an umbrella term (like ASD) and there isn't actually an accepted definition which is why I would be cautious with a diagnosis. In very broad terms it means difficulty with number.

trinity0097 · 14/04/2013 07:48

Any other problems should not be taken into account when diagnosing dyscalculia. At very basic terms it is about a lack of concept of number, I.e. being able to see that 5 blobs on a page is the same as the number 5 without having to count them one by one. Also not understanding that a 7 written twice as large as a 8 is still a smaller number in terms of it's value.

spanky2 · 14/04/2013 07:52

Nessy do a learning program for dyscalcia . We have the Nessy learning program for dyslexia and it is fantastic . It is very easy to use and really effective . Ds1has improved so much. There is life after a diagnosis.Smile

mrz · 14/04/2013 08:11

The typical type of question an Ed Psych would use based on WISC-IIIUK

If you buy 3 dozen pencils at 30 pence a dozen, how much change should you get back from £1?

45 seconds to answer ...

Original poster
MissDuke · 20/04/2013 22:00

Sorry I missed those last two posts, thanks mrz and spanky2 :-)

OP posts:
Winthorpe · 19/06/2013 15:40

Hi
I too have posted in Special Needs as I am searching for london summer camp or private qualified tutor in dyscalculia for my y6 dd. Despite professional reluctance to label kids with dyscalculia....it s v real and easy to diagnose informally by observant parent.....difficulties with memorising timestables, difficulty reading time, subtracting, division concepts...and that s only at K Stage 2.....secondary school maths is a nightmare if teachers untrained & under resourced....has anyone any tips, experiences to share?....

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