dyscalculia

American  

[dis-kal-kyoo-lee-uh] / ˌdɪs kælˈkyu li ə /

noun

1. a learning disability that impacts a person's ability to understand, process, and utilize numerical information and mathematical concepts.

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dyscalculia British  

/ ˌdɪskælˈkjuːlɪə /

noun

1. severe difficulty in making simple mathematical calculations, due to cerebral disease or injury

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Etymology

Origin of dyscalculia

First recorded in 1950–55; dys- + calcul(ate) + -ia

Explanation

Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that makes it hard to understand numbers and calculations. People who really struggle with math are sometimes diagnosed with dyscalculia. Dyscalculia, literally "counting badly," comes from the Greek dys-, "badly," and the Latin calculare, which means "to count." People with dyscalculia have brains that work perfectly well in other areas, like reading or spatial reasoning. But when it comes to numbers, they have enormous difficulty. Often, a young child with dyscalculia can't look at several objects and calculate how many there are — it's an early sign they might have the condition.

Example Sentences

Lucy McGill, from Bedale, has lived with dyscalculia all her life - and her 11-year-old daughter Ava was formally diagnosed last year.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

However, she said there were currently no plans to introduce a national definition of dyscalculia.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

She has also been having some private tuition with a specialist teacher and expert in dyscalculia.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

"We've got kids with dyslexia, dyscalculia, autism, ADHD, attachment needs," she says.

From BBC • Nov. 11, 2025

When having lunch with a friend, Jackson heard about a disorder known as dyscalculia.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 18, 2023