Dyscalculia

Strengths

• Can view things from a different perspective
• Problem solving skills
• Strategic thinking
• Empathy

Effects/Difficulties

• Difficult understanding numbers 
• Poor sense of estimate of numbers
• Slow to perform calculations
• Forget mathematical procedures/ maths facts
• Difficulty counting backwards

Students

• Use of a calculator
• Use of formula tables/sheets
• Extra time in exams 
• Study skills support
• Longer library loans

Students should expect that their university and placement providers provide reasonable adjustments. Further support can also be accessed through Disabled Students Allowance.

Employees

• Use of a calculator
• Use of formula tables/sheets

Employers should make reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. These may be subsidised by the government scheme Access to Work which provides non medical help (including coaching, transport) as well as equipment, based on a workplace assessment. 

Reasonable adjustments should also be provided during recruitment processes. 

See the Peer Support Service's Health Ability Passport guide for more information on reasonable adjustments. 

• Increase in anxiety reduces working memory and therefore make dyscalculia worse, therefore work on maths anxiety
• Will need to practice calculations repeatedly to remember the process but also gain confidence
• In practice nurses will double and triple check 
• Consider reasonableness of answer