Do you find yourself struggling with numbers or dreading maths? Here, we take a look at ‘dyscalculia’, and what can be done to help you navigate daily life with confidence

As adults, there are certain tasks that crop up in daily life that we’re expected to just ‘get’. It could be remembering a postcode, being able to work out the correct change to give someone, or what the percentage tip to add on to your payment at a restaurant equates to. But, for some, numbers are a genuine problem, and one that can’t be solved simply with focused thinking.

Also known as maths dyslexia, ‘dyscalculia’ is a learning difficulty that affects how someone’s brain processes numbers and mathematical information, with around one in 20 people believed to have it. Similar to how dyslexia affects areas of the brain related to reading, dyscalculia affects areas dealing with maths and number-related skills and understanding.

Typically, signs of this type of neurodivergence appear during childhood, often when you start learning how to do basic maths. However, it’s very possible to reach adulthood without knowing that you have it. There is also a specific form – acquired dyscalculia – which can develop at any age, and, rather than being a result of a learning disorder, is caused by damage to the brain.

Signs and symptoms of dyscalculia

Processing a maths equation or navigating a numbers challenge takes more steps and skills than many people realise. They utilise many different areas of the brain – from visual processing to both short and long-term memory, language, calculation, and understanding of quantities and amounts – which, together, allow us to solve problems and work with numbers. Someone with dyscalculia might struggle with one or more of these elements.

Symptoms can vary greatly depending on which part of the process you struggle with, your age, and what kinds of situations you encounter that involve maths. A young child might have trouble recognising numbers and symbols, counting, or connecting numbers with objects. Older kids may have difficulty doing simple calculations from memory, or understanding word problems. In teenage years, someone could struggle with breaking problems into multiple steps, measuring quantities for recipes, or understanding and converting fractions. While adults might have problems telling the time when using analogue clocks, budgeting, or remembering phone numbers.

Over time, people with dyscalculia may have anxiety around activities that involve maths. This can lead to avoiding situations involving numbers, feeling a growing sense of frustration, agitation, fear, or even physical discomfort, when faced with tasks that require numbers or maths. You might find yourself feeling queasy, sweating, having a stomach ache, or even vomiting when a situation involving numbers can’t be avoided.

“The knock-on effects can be wide-ranging, and everyone is unique in their response,” says Tina Chummun, a UK Council for Psychotherapy-accredited therapist. “Beyond maths itself, dyscalculia may show up when dealing with money, reading timetables, or estimating times. These everyday ‘micro-failures’ can slowly erode a person’s self-belief, especially if they’ve been told they’re careless, or not trying hard enough.”

This negative impact on self-belief doesn’t just affect how people deal with situations involving numbers or maths. It can also create a sense of anxiety and shame that affects wider areas of their life. Tina says: “It’s common to see people avoid careers, studies, or even social situations where numbers might crop up, leading to frustration or reduced independence.”

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Maths anxiety vs dyscalculia: What’s the difference?

It’s important to note that maths anxiety and dyscalculia are not the same thing: you can be anxious about maths without having dyscalculia, and you can have both maths anxiety and dyscalculia. While dyscalculia is a learning difficulty affecting your ability to understand and work with numbers, maths anxiety is an emotional response that results in discomfort, fear, or worry when trying to do maths. While both can leave you feeling anxious and avoiding numbers-based tasks, the latter can create a cycle where the fear or nerves actually impact your performance negatively. 

What causes dyscalculia?

One paper, published in Deutsches Ärzteblatt, notes that 3–7% of all children, adolescents, and adults have dyscalculia, yet little research has been done to uncover the cause. Some evidence suggests it could run in families, but more research is needed. It can often occur alongside other neurodivergent conditions, including ADHD, dyslexia, autism, and sensory processing disorders.

We do know that acquired dyscalculia (often developed later in life) is different, and usually happens when the brain is damaged in some way – such as following a stroke, head trauma, or surgery – disrupting areas related to maths skills. For anyone experiencing acquired dyscalculia, or suddenly developing difficulties with numbers, it’s important to speak with your GP for support.

Summing up support

For children with dyscalculia, one-on-one support to learn the skills and abilities to adapt can help. For adults, the focus is more on finding useful ways to help, often using technology or other methods.

“Support works best when it addresses both the practical challenges, and the emotional impact,” says Tina. “This can mean working with the awareness in detail, in therapy, so that the individual can reach acceptance of their [dyscalculia]. After this, they can start to work on reframing their experience by making subtle changes to their thought processes and behaviours, to manage, cope, regulate, and self-soothe.”

Having a combination of practical support (like step-by-step strategies and tools), as well as emotional and mental health support (e.g. learning more about dyscalculia, therapy, gentle exposure) can help. Some people – particularly those still in an educational setting – find that a formal diagnosis can help access more support and guidance. But others may find that self-identification is enough. Remember: you can start using strategies and put supportive resources in place without the need a formal diagnosis. Finding what works for you is what’s important.

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Tina’s quick tips for daily life with dyscalculia

. Use technology to help you – e.g. a calculator or app for money-related tasks, and alarms and digital calendars to aid in time management.

. Stick to grams or millilitres when cooking, and use a digital scale to help you.

. Keep a ‘cheat sheet’ for common conversions or number facts easily accessible.

. Remember: dyscalculia doesn’t define your intelligence. With the right support, your independence and confidence can grow.

If you recognise signs of dyscalculia in yourself, or how you feel about maths, know that you aren’t alone. While dyscalculia presents challenges, it’s only one part of who you are. With self-compassion, coping strategies, and support, you can navigate those difficulties and thrive. Your worth isn’t measured in numbers.