Stark figures show that children as young as 6 suffer from math anxiety, with around 30% of the US population experiencing math difficulties.
These difficulties don’t necessarily improve with age. For 2022, statistics show that only 26% of eighth-graders are proficient in math, down from 34% in 2019. This issue is compounded by millions of kids with conditions including ADHD and dyscalculia struggling with math.For example, a third of kids with ADHD also struggle with a math-related learning disability, while up to 14% are affected by dyscalculia.
These numbers show that the US math crisis is still a pressing issue. What can be done to improve math skills from school onwards?
We’ve gathered opinions from math experts who specialize in supporting kids with ADHD, math anxiety, dyscalculia and other forms of math difficulties, as well as research from Brighterly’s edtech experts.
What are ADHD, dyscalculia and math anxiety?
ADHD, math anxiety and dyscalculia are some of the most common conditions affecting kids’ math ability and understanding. Here is a summary of each condition and their associated symptoms.
ADHD and math learning difficulties
Attention deficit hyperactive disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodivergent condition that can affect kids’ behavior and how they perceive the world. Symptoms can differ between boys and girls, but most commonly present as:
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Impulsiveness and hyperactivity
- Difficulty memorizing and practicing facts
These symptoms make kids with ADHD more prone to math-related disabilities, which can be more common with a lack of focus, struggles to memorize information and even vision problems.
Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia is a learning disability that manifests in difficulties in learning or understanding numbers and mathematical concepts. Kids with dyscalculia exhibit symptoms including:
- Inability to perform mental math
- Difficulties counting, even with lower numbers
- Struggling to spot patterns, such as smallest to largest objects
- Lack of understanding in interpreting graphs and charts
Math anxiety
Math anxiety is a fear or anxiety around working with numbers and math concepts. Kids with math anxiety may:
- Put themselves down
- Show reluctance to study or engage in math
- Struggle to remember math facts and concepts
- Experience difficulty concentrating on math
- Exhibit physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate and perspiration
How to support kids struggling with math
There are proven methods that can support kids who are struggling with math due to ADHD, dyscalculia, math anxiety or other learning difficulties.
Use visual aids
Children with vision problems are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. According to Jesse Willingham, optometric physician and founder of Brighter Outlook Vision, this affects math ability.
“Children struggling with math could have a vision problem, making it physically difficult to understand and process the information,” Willingham says. “This can make it even harder for their eyes to focus. It may make the numbers appear double or like they are moving around on the page.”
Visual aids using real-life examples such as fruit, money or toys can help kids with ADHD understand math. Abacuses are also useful learning aids that “provide interactive and hands-on learning,” says psychologist Ray Christner.
Nick Bach, clinical psychologist and owner of Grace Psychological Services, highlights how effective visual aids are for kids with dyscalculia. too.
“Incorporate visual aids like number lines, diagrams and blocks into your study session,” Bach says. “These tools can significantly enhance understanding and retention for children with dyscalculia, making abstract ideas more concrete and accessible.”
Enlist their favorite devices
Nowadays, even the youngest children already know how to use different gadgets. Naturally, children with dyscalculia and ADHD are no exception. Even though parents try to limit their screen time, children still try to get their hands on gadgets in any way they can. So why not consider options where both children and parents are happy? It may be surprising to some parents that there are now so many options for learning via mobile, tablet and desktop apps. And they really work!
Simon Bacher, CEO and co-founder of Ling, explains how technology can boost learning. “Audiovisual stimuli facilitate information processing and memorization, which makes smartphone applications an effective learning tool for children with ADHD,” Bacher says.
A study using Say-it and Learn with five children with ADHD found that using a mobile app heightened their interest in learning letters, basic math exercises and shapes. “The findings are astonishing, demonstrating how apps combat boredom and significantly improve concentration,” Bacher says.
No more excuses for taking your kid’s phone away from them, which will be music to their ears! Just be sure they’re using math-related apps for their studies and not endlessly scrolling TikTok.
Relate math to everyday life
Basic math skills are essential to functioning in everyday life. Using day-to-day activities to illustrate math concepts is a proven way to support kids with ADHD, math anxiety and dyscalculia.
Students can feel more comfortable and confident applying their mathematical knowledge when presented with everyday scenarios instead of potentially intimidating math equations. According to Brighterly, kids will be less terrified of math and other STEM subjects when they naturally encounter them in daily situations.
Bach supports this approach, advising parents to “integrate math into daily situations like shopping or cooking. Let them touch food and other ingredients that they are counting.”
“My experience [particularly] with dyscalculic students shows that contextual learning boosts their mathematical abilities and increases confidence in using math in daily life,” Bach says.
Be supportive and work on your kid’s mindset
Improving math understanding and performance doesn’t just come from learning aids. Often, mindset holds back kids with math anxiety and learning difficulties. According to Evan Copeland, department head of mathematics at Fusion Academy, it’s essential to ensure kids don’t feel incompetent.
“You should create a safe space to raise a child’s progress. It’s the most critical aspect of healing their anxiety,” Copeland says. This approach is backed up by evidence because studies show that kids who believe they’re perceived as incompetent have less motivation and significantly worse academic performance.
How can parents and teachers ensure they don’t make children feel incompetent? Andrew Fayad, CEO at Elm Learning, suggests “highlighting their progress and celebrating every success, no matter how small. Provide interactive and engaging activities to make mathematics fun. It can be games, puzzles, or some real-life applications.”
Academic success isn’t just made in the classroom. Academic success starts at home with supportive attitudes.
Math anxiety directly correlates with poor performance in math. This issue is further compounded by the number of children with math-related learning difficulties, most commonly ADHD-related disabilities and dyscalculia. With the news that math skills will be more vital to future jobs than ever before, it’s essential to support our younger generations and address the US math crisis head-on. We can start by using these expert-backed tips to aid kids experiencing struggles or anxieties around math.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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