When parents discover their child has dyslexia, their focus naturally centres on reading and spelling. But many of these same parents notice something else — their child also struggles with numbers, maths facts, telling the time, or understanding sequences. And they wonder: is this connected to the dyslexia, or is something else going on?
It is an important question, and one that does not have a simple yes or no answer. Dyslexia and maths difficulties are linked in some children — but they are caused by different underlying processes. Understanding the difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia, and how they can overlap, is essential for making sure your child gets the right support for all of their needs.
At The Learnability, we work with children who have a range of learning profiles — including children whose difficulties go beyond reading alone. In this guide we explain the relationship between dyslexia and maths, what dyscalculia is, and what parents should do if their child is struggling in both areas.
Does Dyslexia Cause Maths Difficulties?
Dyslexia does not directly cause maths difficulties — but it can significantly affect how a child experiences maths in several important ways.
Reading and Language in Maths
Maths is not purely about numbers. A significant part of maths — particularly from primary school onward — involves reading and understanding written word problems, following multi-step written instructions, reading graphs and charts, and processing mathematical language and terminology. A child with dyslexia who struggles to read accurately and fluently will naturally find these aspects of maths more challenging, not because their mathematical reasoning is weak, but because the language demands of the task create a barrier.
Working Memory
Many children with dyslexia have difficulties with verbal working memory — the ability to hold and process information in their mind while completing a task. This affects reading, but it also affects maths. Carrying numbers in long multiplication, remembering the steps of a multi-stage calculation, or holding the beginning of a word problem in mind while working through to the end — all of these tasks depend on working memory, and all can be affected by the same underlying processing differences that contribute to dyslexia.
Sequencing and Automaticity
Learning multiplication tables, performing column arithmetic, and following the steps of a mathematical procedure all require automaticity — the ability to perform sequences of steps quickly and without conscious effort. Many children with dyslexia have difficulties with automaticity and sequencing, which can make these aspects of maths persistently challenging even when the child understands the underlying concepts.
Directional Confusion
Some children with dyslexia experience directional confusion — difficulty distinguishing left from right, or confusing the orientation of symbols. This can affect maths as well as reading, leading to errors such as reversing digits (writing 21 instead of 12), misreading the direction of mathematical operations, or struggling with spatial concepts in geometry.
So while dyslexia does not directly cause maths difficulties, it can create real and significant challenges in maths through these indirect pathways. This is why a child with dyslexia who is struggling in maths deserves a thorough assessment that looks at all of these contributing factors — not just their reading. Our Orton-Gillingham Assessment and WIST Assessment give a comprehensive picture of a child's learning profile that informs exactly this kind of holistic support planning.
What Is Dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty that directly affects a child's ability to understand and work with numbers. Just as dyslexia is not about intelligence but about a specific neurological difference in processing language, dyscalculia is not about intelligence — it is about a specific neurological difference in processing numerical information.
Children with dyscalculia have difficulty understanding the fundamental concept of number — what numbers mean, how they relate to each other, and how they can be combined and manipulated. This is sometimes called a weakness in number sense, and it affects everything that follows in mathematics — from basic arithmetic right through to algebra, geometry, and statistics.
Dyscalculia is estimated to affect between 3 and 7 percent of the population — a significant proportion, though it is much less widely understood and recognised than dyslexia. Many children with dyscalculia go through their entire school career without being identified, simply being labelled as "bad at maths" without anyone understanding why.
Signs of Dyscalculia in Children
The signs of dyscalculia can appear from the earliest years of schooling and become more apparent as mathematical demands increase. Parents should look out for the following signs:
In Early Childhood (Ages 3 to 5)
- Difficulty learning to count in sequence
- Unable to understand that the last number counted represents the total quantity
- Struggling to recognise which of two groups has more objects
- Difficulty learning the names of numbers
- Struggling to understand concepts such as more, less, bigger, smaller
In Primary School (Ages 5 to 11)
- Difficulty memorising basic number facts such as addition and multiplication tables despite extensive practice
- Counting on fingers well beyond the age when most children have moved past this strategy
- Struggling to understand place value — the difference between units, tens, and hundreds
- Difficulty with mental arithmetic even for simple calculations
- Consistently losing track of steps in multi-stage calculations
- Struggling to tell the time on an analogue clock
- Difficulty handling money and making change
- Confusing mathematical symbols such as plus, minus, multiplication, and division
In Secondary School (Ages 11 and Above)
- Persistent difficulty with algebra, fractions, and percentages despite effort and instruction
- Struggling to estimate or judge whether an answer is reasonable
- Difficulty interpreting graphs, charts, and data
- Poor understanding of mathematical sequences and patterns
- Significant maths anxiety — becoming visibly distressed by maths tasks
- Avoiding any subject or career path that involves numbers
If several of these signs are present — particularly if they persist despite good teaching and genuine effort — a proper assessment is strongly recommended. Contact The Learnability to speak with one of our specialists about the right next steps for your child.
How Common Is It for Dyslexia and Dyscalculia to Co-Occur?
Research suggests that dyslexia and dyscalculia co-occur in approximately 40 percent of individuals who have either condition. This is a significant overlap — but it is important to understand that they are separate conditions with different underlying causes, and a child can have one without the other.
A child with dyslexia alone may perform perfectly well in maths once the language and reading barriers are removed. A child with dyscalculia alone may read well but struggle significantly with numerical concepts. And a child with both conditions — sometimes called a dual exceptionality — faces challenges in both reading and maths that require support in both areas.
This is why accurate assessment is so important. Without a thorough assessment, it is easy to misattribute maths difficulties to dyslexia, or to assume that a child who is getting reading support does not need any additional help with maths. A comprehensive assessment identifies exactly what is going on and ensures that support is targeted at the right areas.
How Are Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Different?
While dyslexia and dyscalculia can co-occur and share some common features — such as difficulties with working memory and automaticity — they have different core deficits:
- Dyslexia — core deficit in phonological processing, affecting the ability to connect sounds to letters and decode written language
- Dyscalculia — core deficit in number sense, affecting the ability to understand and work with numerical quantities and relationships
Because the core deficits are different, the interventions needed are also different. Reading intervention — such as our Orton-Gillingham tutoring or Wilson Reading System — targets phonological processing and is effective for dyslexia. Maths intervention for dyscalculia focuses on building number sense, numerical reasoning, and mathematical fluency through structured, concrete, multisensory approaches.
At The Learnability, our special needs tutoring is designed to support children with a range of learning profiles, including those with co-occurring difficulties in reading and maths. Our tutors understand how to identify what each individual child needs and how to deliver targeted support across multiple areas.
What Other Conditions Can Affect Maths Performance?
Dyscalculia is not the only condition that can cause maths difficulties. Several other conditions — some of which commonly co-occur with dyslexia — can also significantly affect a child's ability to learn and perform maths:
ADHD
Attention difficulties can make it very hard for a child to sustain the focus needed to complete multi-step maths tasks, remember procedures, or check their work carefully. Many children with ADHD have significant maths difficulties that are related to attention and working memory rather than number sense.
Dyspraxia (Developmental Coordination Disorder)
Dyspraxia affects motor coordination and spatial awareness, which can make written maths work — such as lining up columns correctly, forming numbers neatly, or understanding spatial geometry concepts — significantly more challenging.
Anxiety
Maths anxiety is a real and significant phenomenon that affects children at all ability levels. A child who has experienced repeated failure in maths may develop genuine anxiety around mathematical tasks that impairs their performance independently of any underlying learning difficulty. Addressing the anxiety as well as the underlying skill gaps is important for these children.
What Should Parents Do If Their Child Struggles With Both Reading and Maths?
If your child is struggling with both reading and maths, the most important first step is to seek a comprehensive assessment that looks at the full picture. This will identify whether dyslexia, dyscalculia, or both are present, and will guide the development of a targeted support plan that addresses all of your child's needs.
Here is what we recommend:
- Contact The Learnability for a free consultation — we will listen to your concerns and help you understand what assessment and support your child may need
- Request a comprehensive assessment — our Orton-Gillingham Assessment and WIST Assessment provide detailed information about your child's reading profile
- Prioritise reading intervention first — in most cases, addressing reading difficulties first is the right starting point, as many maths difficulties in children with dyslexia are linked to the language and working memory demands of maths tasks
- Monitor maths progress alongside reading — as reading improves, maths performance often improves too; if significant maths difficulties persist, targeted maths intervention can be introduced
You can explore our full range of services — including our reading intervention programs and special needs tutoring — or contact us today to speak with a specialist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dyscalculia as common as dyslexia?
Dyscalculia is estimated to affect 3 to 7 percent of the population, compared to 15 to 20 percent for dyslexia. It is less common but still affects a significant number of children. It is also much less widely recognised and understood, which means many children with dyscalculia go without support for longer than children with dyslexia.
Can a child be good at maths and have dyslexia?
Absolutely. Many children with dyslexia have strong mathematical reasoning and perform well in maths — particularly in conceptual and problem-solving aspects. Their difficulties are specific to the language and reading demands of maths tasks rather than numerical understanding itself. Dyslexia does not predict maths ability.
How is dyscalculia diagnosed?
Dyscalculia is typically identified through a comprehensive assessment carried out by an educational psychologist or specialist assessor. The assessment looks at numerical processing, working memory, mathematical reasoning, and academic achievement in maths. Contact The Learnability for guidance on the right assessment pathway for your child.
Will reading intervention help my child's maths too?
For children whose maths difficulties are linked to dyslexia — particularly difficulties with word problems, mathematical language, and working memory — reading intervention often does have a positive impact on maths performance. As decoding becomes more automatic and working memory is less consumed by reading, more cognitive resources become available for maths tasks.
My child hates maths and refuses to do it — what should I do?
Maths avoidance and maths anxiety are very common in children with dyscalculia or maths learning difficulties. The first step is to seek assessment and appropriate support so that the underlying difficulty is addressed. Alongside this, building your child's confidence through small, achievable successes and removing the pressure of timed or performance-focused maths tasks can help reduce anxiety. Speak to our team — we can help you find the right approach for your child.
Support Your Child in Reading and Maths Today
Whether your child is struggling with reading alone, maths alone, or both together, the most important thing you can do is seek the right assessment and support without delay. Learning difficulties do not resolve on their own, and every term without appropriate support widens the gap between your child and their peers.
At The Learnability, our specialist tutors are experienced in supporting children with a wide range of learning profiles — including those with co-occurring dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and other learning difficulties. We deliver personalised, evidence-based support online through one-on-one sessions, tailored precisely to your child's individual needs.
Book your free trial session today and take the first step toward giving your child the comprehensive support they need and deserve.
You can also contact us directly or call us at (310) 218-9466 — we are always happy to help you find the right path forward for your child.