A Systematic Literature Review of Empirical Evidence on Students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities

Anbalagan Devar Devarajah,Roslinda Rosli,Dharshini Gunasegar

doi:10.47405/mjssh.v6i10.1063

Abstract

Mathematics is a particularly important component in our daily life and many students find it as an exceedingly difficult subject to be learned. The similar problem is being faced by special needs students such as those with learning disabilities (LD). This paper provides a current and thorough literature review of the empirical evidence on students with mathematics learning disabilities. The authors conducted the review of literature from the year 2016 to 2020 using Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) as the database. A total of 31 articles were found. Multiple mathematics learning disabilities were identified and the educational interventions that were used vary accordingly. Finding shows that most of the studies focused on technology-based interventions to help students with intellectual disability which includes problem solving and creative thinking. The implications of the study are also discussed in this literature review, which indicates that teachers need to use the appropriate educational interventions to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities and maximize their mathematics learning outcomes in schools.

Highlights

Mathematics is an essential subject that has its continuity in our daily life
An efficient method of intervention in learning disabilities should include an explicit teaching of different strategies, which regularly strengthen the acquisition of each step; telling the child how to proceed and use strategies of problem solving; proposing significant problems to the student which have different semantic structures
The study was carried out to identify the types of mathematics learning disabilities faced by the students and the educational interventions that had been used to overcome the problem

Summary

Introduction

Mathematics is an essential subject that has its continuity in our daily life. Many students encounter learning difficulties in mathematics as they find it a complicated subject to be understood due to its natural characteristics. Kunwar et al (2021), say by its very nature being an abstract subject, it raises the problem of learning difficulty. Many students encounter learning difficulties in mathematics as they find it a complicated subject to be understood due to its natural characteristics. Kunwar et al (2021), say by its very nature being an abstract subject, it raises the problem of learning difficulty. Special needs students face mathematics learning disabilities (LD) as their cognitive development is at very minimal level. People with disabilities and other special needs in most, if not all, countries around the world have faced discrimination in the provision of education (Okech, 2021). They are often neglected as many teachers focus on the mainstream students by providing them the appropriate teaching strategies. Supporting pupils with special educational needs should be part of a proactive approach

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