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What the Doctor Ordered: Online Math Tutors for Children With Math Learning Disabilities
Math is a challenging subject for many people, but some have a harder time with it than others. Dyscalculia is a learning disability that makes it hard for people to understand and grasp basic math concepts and skills. Kids who are diagnosed with dyscalculia are often frustrated in math class since they can’t keep up with other students. For these kids, studying with an online math tutor can help them overcome their challenges.
Eurekly.com offers a wide selection of capable math tutors who specialize in different subjects. You can search the platform with your children to find a tutor (or tutors) who can help them with whatever subject material they’re learning in class. These tutors can give them the personal attention and patience they need to practice the material and ultimately master both simple and more advanced math concepts.
What is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a learning disability that pertains only to math. It doesn’t reflect the intelligence of a person but rather shows that math presents a specific difficulty. Common representations of dyscalculia include difficulty with basic counting, trouble with telling time, and confusion regarding directions (left and right).
In many people, dyscalculia presents as a comorbid condition, usually appearing with ADD/ADD, dyslexia, or dysgraphia. According to 2019 research published in Dtsch Arztebl Intl, between 3% and 7% of people (children, adolescents, and adults) have dyscalculia. However, it’s not easy to diagnose—in fact, a UK study has shown that children with dyscalculia are far less likely to be diagnosed than their peers with dyslexia.
There are several reasons for the difficulty in diagnosing dyscalculia. First, dyscalculia doesn’t have its own section in the DSM-5 (the definitive diagnostic tool in psychiatry), but appears under the SLD (specific learning disorder) section. Second, many students struggle with math, so it’s not always easy to tell the difference between who is simply struggling and who has an actual learning disability.
Online Math Tutoring as Treatment for Children With Dyscalculia
Dyscalculia isn’t like ADD or ADHD that can be treated with Ritalin or similar medications. According to the Dtsch Arztebl Intl article cited above, treatment should include “symptom-specific interventions” and training in the areas of math that are especially problematic.
Online math tutors are a wonderful way to provide focused help in problematic areas. In a classroom, there is only so much a teacher can do. They can (and should) be alerted to the issue, but aside from giving extra time for tests and moral support, there’s not much they can do. It’s a teacher’s job to teach the material to the entire class, and they don’t usually have the time to focus on a specific student who has difficulties.
Online tutors, on the other hand, do have the time. In fact, this is exactly what they’re being paid for—to focus on one student and one specific subject. You can schedule regular sessions for your child with dyscalculia with a tutor who can focus on their specific challenges, whether it’s learning to count without their fingers, telling time, or simply reviewing the same concept over and over again.
If you are seeking an online math tutor to help your child with dyscalculia, make sure to choose a math tutor who has the patience to constantly review and go slowly. At Eurekly.com, you can have your choice of tutors and take advantage of free trial lessons so you can find one who understands your child’s challenges and who has the patience and resolve to help them overcome them.
Long-Term Online Math Tutoring
As treatment for dyscalculia, online tutoring shouldn’t be viewed as a one-off way to prepare for tests. It should be considered a long-term treatment that will ultimately help your child grasp concepts that are extremely difficult for them.
Young children who have dyscalculia don’t suddenly wake up one day and understand everything—it’s a lifelong challenge that, if not addressed, will persist into adulthood and make it difficult to perform basic math functions, like budgeting, paying bills, and even telling time on an analog clock.
Benefits of Online Math Tutors
Learning with online math tutors can be beneficial for children with math learning disabilities and those who simply struggle in the subject. In addition to personalized attention and patience, math tutors offer several benefits. These include:
Flexibility: Your child won’t need to leave the house to study—they can do so from the comfort of their homes, on any device.
Convenience: When you learn with a tutor in school or local private tutor, you have to go according to their schedule. With online math tutors, you set the schedule. You can choose a tutor who suits your child’s timetable and natural body clock. Some kids are early birds—so you can find a tutor who works on weekend mornings. Some kids are night owls—so you can find a tutor who works at night. With online tutoring, you are in control.
Affordability: Online tutors at Eurekly.com are very affordable, and since there is a large selection, you can find one who suits your budget.
Whether your child in elementary, middle, or high school has been diagnosed with dyscalculia or has general struggles in math, online math tutors can help. Check out Eurekly.com and get started today.