Problem Solving Difficulties

Detecting early signs of Mathematics learning disability and seeking immediate help can be key to your child's progress and overall well-being. 

Both your our child’s school and yourself play a major role in identifying, very early on, signs of difficulties: 

Delays and difficulties may occur with other signs such as a slow learning pace, lack of enthusiasm for school tasks, anxiety, trouble memorizing things and staying focused.

Noticing your child’s difficulties at an early stage and seeking help from an SLT is critical because it leads to better developmental outcomes. 

If you suspect a learning disorder or if you have concerns, talk to your child’s teacher and consult with an SLT for a comprehensive evaluation.

Mathematics learning disabilities can range from mild to severe and manifest themselves in a variety of ways. 

Common signs of the disabilities include: 

Mathematics learning disability is often identified in the early years of schooling (KG3 and Elementary years) alongside reading and writing difficulties. It may be sometimes discovered later on when the mathematical concepts become more complex.  

Once you have identified your child’s difficulties and challenges, the first step would be to  seek the help of a speech and language therapist as soon as possible. The SLT will perform a formal assessment of your child’s language, prerequisites and learning skills (understanding instructions, reading and writing) as well as a specific assessment focused on mathematical abilities and logical reasoning skills. 

Once the assessment is done and depending on your child’s case and results, the speech therapist might ask you to consult with other specialists such as a neurologist, a psychologist, or an occupational therapist, in order to work together to reach a clear diagnosis. 

Mathematics learning disability is not linked to intelligence or a lower IQ.  

Children with problem solving and logical reasoning difficulties typically have normal to high IQ, but they may be unable to exhibit the skill level expected from someone of a similar age and with a similar IQ due to the difficulties their brain has at receiving, processing, storing, retrieving and communicating the information they get. 

Because of those difficulties, and not because of a low IQ, they can struggle to accomplish tasks that are necessary to resolve mathematical and analytical issues.

Your child’s difficulties are not caused by any specific teaching method. Troubles with math are related to the fact that he/she’s not being able to process received visual or auditory information the right way.  

However, specific accommodations and teaching approaches can certainly be applied in order to help your child acquire information more easily such as:

Following the SLT’s assessment, your child’s therapist will suggest specific accommodations that suit his/her unique and personal needs.

Treating Mathematics learning disability is a lifelong process involving your child and his environment. If your child’s difficulties are detected and treated early, therapy’s outcome can greatly improve your child’s abilities, as it will help him all through his learning process to keep on adapting to the changing requirements and build at each stage the adequate new skills to deal with them. 

Difficulties can be at a varying degree (mild, moderate or severe), that's why the treatment process can be different among children in terms of length and frequency . On average, a period of 3 to 6 months of therapy is needed before being able to see palpable  improvements  in your child’s abilities.

With appropriate academic support and with speech therapy intervention (SLP assessment, parental guidance, school support, ect..), children can achieve success in school, in their future career, in relationships, and in the community at their own slower pace. Speech therapy will help bridge the gap between your child and his peers.

Math skills are necessary knowledge for your child’s educational success and future career.  It is also important to note that those skills are key to have for everyday life; to tell time and distance, to handle money and make financial decisions, to plan and purchase things. 

Mathematics learning disability can impact academic performance at variable degrees: 

In general, the academic performance of a child can be greatly affected by those disabilities, resulting in frustration and emotional struggles. However, with the right accommodations and with speech therapy treatment, your child’s abilities will improve and develop to gradually meet his academic requirements and his daily life needs.

Following the diagnosis process, your child’s SLT will tailor an individual treatment plan based on the assessment’s findings, your concerns, your child’s individual strengths and needs, his/her age and his academic requirements. It includes well-defined goals, school accommodations and parental support. 

Speech Therapy will help your child in developing different areas involved in learning mathematics, such as:

These goals will be addressed through playing, experimenting, manipulating objects, etc. Such activities will help your child retain essential information, apply it to new situations and rehearse it until it becomes automatic.

Your child’s SLT will also work closely with your child’s teacher to help your child in class. This may include suggesting some school accommodations to help him/her in the classroom and during evaluation. Your child's treatment plan will definitely evolve over time depending on the goals reached and his/her upcoming academic requirements. 

Speech and language therapy is more effective when the child’s family is actively engaged in the treatment process. 

You are therefore encouraged to work closely with your child’s speech therapist to reinforce the new skills he/she’s learning in therapy. You can do that by : 

Usually parents are not required to attend all the therapy sessions of their child, however, attending coaching sessions and observing a therapy session with the speech therapist will provide you with new techniques and strategies to support your child. It can also teach you new ways of responding to difficult or problematic behaviors.

Parents have a huge impact on their children’s learning skills. As a parent, one of the best ways you can help is to constantly encourage your child. 

As for the understanding of Math concepts, you can help your child in two ways, either by addressing the math concepts indirectly through daily fun activities or by addressing them directly when helping your child with his schoolwork:

Your child will be more interested in mastering math if he/she realizes its value in his daily life.

Keep in mind that every child has his/her own needs and ways of learning, try and focus on finding the right way to help yours. Encourage your kid not to only aim for successful grades, but also to be happy, friendly and creative.