Calls for earlier action to spot maths learning difficulties

Throughout her school years, Eva felt “stupid” because she always failed her maths exam while many of her friends grasped the dreaded subject.
A year ago Eva, who is now 18, found out that she has dyscalculia.
“I was relieved when I was diagnosed. They did several tests and told me I had dyscalculia. At least, now I know why I struggle so much with maths and anything to do with numbers, such as calculating change and even reading the time.
“I wish someone had noticed sooner,” she says, adding that her diagnosis was possible thanks to the head of her sixth form whose child also had dyscalculia.
Dyscalculia is a term used to describe a specific learning difficulty that affects an individual’s ability to perceive quantities which results in challenges to understand, learn and perform mathematical and number-based operations. 

Not all difficulties in maths are caused by dyscalculia, which stands at the far end of the Mathematics Learning Difficulties (MLD) spectrum.
But researcher Esmeralda Zerafa is calling for action to be taken to assess children at an early age to ensure they get the necessary support.
“Children with Maths Learning Difficulties and dyscalculia can make great...