Dyscalculia affects children more than dyslexia

London, Jun 8 (UNI) 'Tare Zameen Par' may have made teachers and parents more sensitive towards children suffering from dyslexia, but it is dyscalculia, the mathematical equivalent of the disease, which is more common among minors.

According to a leading British neuroscientist, dyscalculia, a learning disability that leaves sufferers unable to understand mathematical symbols, affects up to six per cent of children. The condition is more common than its literary counterpart dyslexia, which affects between 2.5 per cent and 4.3 per cent.

Professor Brian Butterworth, who presented the new study on Dyscalculia at the Cheltenham Science Festival yesterday, said children suffering from this condition need special teaching in a similar way to dyslexia. He said teachers and education authorities fail to give enough attention to this disability.

Many individuals may be unaware they have this condition and even if they discover that they do, there are no dyscalculia charities to assist them as there are for dyslexia, the professor said.

''Maths and calculations are essential in everyday life and low numeracy can be a real handicap in the workplace,'' the Telegraph quoted him.

Professor Butterworth conducted his study in Cuba where the condition is given far greater recognition. He examined 1,500 children and found that between three and six per cent subjects showed signs of dyscalculia.

He is now conducting studies in the UK to develop educational techniques that will help children with dyscalculia overcome their difficulties.

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