--- title: What is a specific mathematics disability? description: What is a specific mathematics disability? Learn about math difficulties and learning disorders in children, such as dyscalculia, from Sheldon H. Horowitz. slug: what-is-a-specific-mathematics-disability author: Sheldon H. Horowitz, EdD published: '2019-10-16T11:44:30.220Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/D9E78E1A8A98460BBE17F211ADDC805F/7da5bb7c4e8f0d3c6e309c0c6daa8979/G73608253.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-specific-mathematics-disability lang: en --- # What is a specific mathematics disability? **Q. What is a specific mathematics disability?** **A. **You may hear the terms *specific math disability*, *specific learning disability in math*, or *dyscalculia*. These terms all refer to a type of disorder that significantly impacts a person’s ability to learn and perform in math. There is no single profile of this disability. The [signs of dyscalculia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/signs-of-dyscalculia-in-children) will vary from person to person. And they will affect people differently at different times in their lives. Some people with [dyscalculia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyscalculia) have no trouble memorizing basic math facts. It’s performing calculations and solving problems that cause trouble. Others struggle with calculation and basic math operations like multiplication and division. But they can grasp the big concepts and easily understand how a problem can be solved. Disabilities in math are often missed in the early years because kids are learning many basic skills through memorization. Young kids with [dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyslexia) can often memorize their ABCs. But they might not understand the complex relationship between letters and sounds. Similarly, kids with dyscalculia may be able to memorize and recite their 1-2-3s. But they may not be building the [number sense](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/number-sense-what-you-need-to-know) that is essential to future math learning. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [What is dyscalculia?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-dyscalculia) - Dyscalculia is a learning disability in math. People with dyscalculia have trouble with math at many levels. They often struggle with key concepts like bigger vs. smaller. And they can have a hard time doing basic math problems and more abstract math. Snapshot: What dyscalculia is Dyscalculia is a - [What “I’m not a math person” means to me](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-im-not-a-math-person-means-to-me) - Im not a math person. Most of us have heard someone say this. Often its said as a joke or to get a good laugh. Other times, its said matter-of-factly. One thing is for sure the phrase is thrown around a lot. And most people probably dont think much about what it might mean to someone like me. I have - [Understanding why kids struggle with math](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-your-childs-trouble-with-math) - If you see a child struggling with math, you might wonder why, and whether its something to be concerned about. Why is math so hard for some kids? Its not uncommon for kids to have trouble with math. Math difficulties can show up at different ages and in lots of ways. And its a myth that girls strug --- ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-specific-mathematics-disability#webpage","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-specific-mathematics-disability","description":"What is a specific mathematics disability? Learn about math difficulties and learning disorders in children, such as dyscalculia, from Sheldon H. Horowitz."},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-specific-mathematics-disability","name":"What is a specific mathematics disability?"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","datePublished":"2019-10-16T11:44:30.220Z","description":"What is a specific mathematics disability? Learn about math difficulties and learning disorders in children, such as dyscalculia, from Sheldon H. Horowitz.","headline":"What is a specific mathematics disability?","url":"https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-a-specific-mathematics-disability","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.understood.org/#organization","name":"Understood for All Inc","logo":"https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/307jFAYQevghG8nQMCjh89/ccdbbec895765824db43f6d30b496e83/logo_lockup_navy.jpg"}}] ```