Mathematical Learning Disabilities Research Articles

The Opinions of Classroom Teachers on Mathematics Learning Losses During the Pandemic Period

This study aimed to determine the experiences of classroom teachers about learning losses in Mathematics during the pandemic period. This research, which was designed in the pattern of phenomenology, one of the qualitative research methods, was carried out with ten (10) primary school teachers working in different regions of Turkey in the spring term of the 2020-2021 academic year. As a result of the investigation, it was found that classroom teachers experienced that the presupposed skills of students with learning disabilities in mathematics are insufficient. In the teaching process, learning disabilities have negative effects in terms of learning and teaching, related to lack of knowledge and losses in mathematical learning areas, as well as emotional and social effects such as loss of self-confidence and emotional trauma in students. It has been found out that according to classroom teachers, the mathematics learning losses/deficiencies are explained by the sub-themes of student-environment, student-knowledge, subject and technical condition. Children's future academic achievement may be adversely affected due to losses/deficiencies. In the study, it is suggested to examine effects of learning losses/deficiencies with longitudinal studies.

Teaching Whole Number Addition and Subtraction to Students With Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities in mathematics often struggle with the underlying concepts of multidigit addition and subtraction. To help students build a conceptual understanding of these computations, teachers can utilize evidence-based practices such as the concrete–semi-concrete–abstract framework and the use of multiple visual representations. This column presents five key strategies that incorporate evidence-based practices and teach whole number operations that rely on place value understanding.

The Effect of Using Concrete-Representational-Abstract Sequence in Teaching the Perimeter of Geometric Shapes for Students with Learning Disabilities

Geometry is one of the basic areas of school mathematics education, and it is important for elementary students. However, students with mathematics learning disabilities (MLD) struggle with geometry learning. Research has demonstrated that concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) teaching is an effective practice for students with learning disabilities (LD) and other disabilities. The study aimed to investigate whether the CRA sequence can support students’ understanding of calculating the perimeter of geometric shapes and solving mathematical word problems of the perimeter in Najran city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study used the quasi-experimental research design for one treatment group of a pre-posttest. First, the perimeter test of geometric shapes, whose validity and reliability was verified, was used, and then the CRA sequence was applied to eight students in the fourth and fifth grades with LD in mathematics. The results showed that the CRA sequence improved the students’ efficiency in calculating the perimeter of geometric shapes and solving mathematical word problems on the perimeter. Also, the students maintained the learned skills three weeks post the interventional period.

Use of Learning Paths Through a Digital Ecosystem to Support Children With Learning Problems in Basic Math

Nowadays, technology is present in any human activity. In education a central problem is the large amount of educational resources available on the web, these resources need to be organized and evaluated for their best use in a specific way in order to be used by children with learning disabilities, this through user profiles that help an adequate delivery. Each of these children belongs to learning communities within an inclusive digital ecosystem that generates time optimization for the acquisition of basic math skills. This work aims to bring technology closer to improve the knowledge of children with learning disabilities in basic mathematics through the use of learning paths, which help to guide the teacher in the needs of children. A series of resources are proposed in an orderly and progressive manner that help to mitigate the problems presented according to the profile of each student, each of these learning paths are based on workflows in order to deliver resources through services. This paper presents a case study in an elementary school in Mexico and finally the results obtained from the evaluation of the case study.

A Systematic Review of Research Syntheses on Students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities and Difficulties

AbstractThe purpose of the systematic review of mathematics intervention syntheses was to identify patterns and gaps in content areas, instructional strategies, effect sizes, and definitions of learning disabilities (LD), mathematics LD (MLD), and mathematics difficulty (MD). Using rigorous inclusion criteria, we evaluated 36 syntheses that included 836 studies with 32,495 participants. Although each synthesis stated a focus on LD, MLD, or MD, few students with LD or MLD were included, and the authors’ operational definitions of disability and risk varied. Syntheses predominantly focused on word‐problem solving, fractions, computer‐assisted learning, and schema‐based instruction. Wide variation in effectiveness, content areas, and instructional strategies was reported. Finally, our results indicate the majority of syntheses included achievement outcomes, but very few reported on other outcomes (e.g., social validity, strategy use). We discuss how the results of this comprehensive review can guide researchers in expanding the knowledgebase on mathematics interventions.

The Heterogeneity of Mathematical Learning Disabilities: Consequences for Research and Practice

This paper argues why children with Mathematical Learning Disabilities (MLD) do not form a unitary group. Instead, they should be regarded as individuals with unique profiles of strengths and weaknesses that explain their mathematical difficulties. To build this argument, we shortly recapitulate the research on MLD, which has mainly been focused on characterizing the group of children with MLD–as compared to control groups. However, these general characteristics are not applicable to all children with MLD. Furthermore, attempts to define separate, relevant subgroups merely failed. Based on some recent studies, we show how individual profiles of strengths and weaknesses might help in understanding the specific mathematical difficulties of a child. We propose a new multidimensional framework of MLD, in which both strengths and weaknesses are recognized. We argue that both research and practice are in need of further research that takes individual differences into account.

A Comparative Study on Visual Memory and Reaction Time in Students With Specific Learning Disability (SLD) and Normal Children

Objective: This study aimed to compare the reaction time and visual memory in students with SLD and normal students. Methods: This research was conducted using a causal-comparative method. Using causal-comparative method, the samples were selected through cluster sampling i.e. 15 students with reading learning disability, and 15 students with learning disability in mathematics and 15 normal students. The instruments were Kim-Carrad visual memory test and reaction time tester system. The obtained data were analyzed using MANOVA and SPSS software. Results: Results showed that there was a significant relationship between SLD students with the rate of error in visual memory test and duration of reaction to stimuli (P<0.05); the results of this study showed that the performance of SLD students’ memory is lower than that of normal children. Conclusion: Also, there was a significant difference between the reading of students with reading learning disability, and students with learning disability in mathematics and normal students.

Number line estimation strategies used by children with dyscalculia and typically developing controls

The aim of the study was to examine the effect of cognitive deficits, which are present in mathematical learning disabilities (e.g. dyscalculia risk) on the mental number line processing with the use of the one-digit numbers range as well as their symbolic and non-symbolic format of presentation.

Do children with mathematical learning disabilities use the inversion principle to solve three-term arithmetic problems?: The impact of presentation mode

Numerical inversion is the ability to understand that addition is the opposite of subtraction and vice versa. Three-term arithmetic problems can be solved without calculation using this conceptual shortcut. To verify that this principle is used, inverse problems (a + b − b) can be compared with standard problems (a + b − c). If this principle is used, performance on inverse problems will be higher than performance on standard problems because no calculation is required. To our knowledge, this principle has not been previously studied in children with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD). Our objectives were (a) to study whether 10-year-olds with MLD are able to use this conceptual principle in three-term arithmetic problems and (b) to evaluate the impact of the presentation mode. A total of 64 children with or without MLD solved three-term arithmetic problems (inverse and standard) in two presentation modes (symbolic and picture). The results showed that even though children with MLD have difficulties in performing arithmetic problems, they can do so when the inverse problem is presented with pictures. The picture presentation mode allowed children with MLD to efficiently identify and use the conceptual inversion shortcut and thus to achieve a similar performance to that of typically developing children. These results provide interesting perspectives for the care of children with MLD.

Comparative Study of Visual-Spatial Working Memory Perception in Normal Students and Students with special learning disabilities

Background and Aims: Visual-spatial ability is a complex process involving several interconnected parts that develop with the development of working memory. These processes are performed by students with learning disabilities differently from normal students. The purpose of this study was to compare the visual-spatial perception of working memory between normal students and students with special learning disabilities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare visual-spatial perception of working memory between normal students and students with special learning disabilities. Methods: The research method was causal-comparative. The statistical population of the present study was all female and male elementary school students aged 10-12 years with math learning difficulties and dyslexia, and normal students in Khoy. The sample of this study consisted of 90 elementary school students, of whom 30 cases had math disabilities, 30 cases were dyslexic, and 30 cases were normal students. Students with learning disabilities were selected through available sampling in the Learning Disorders Center. Normal students were selected by random cluster sampling from Khoy schools. To diagnose and evaluate mathematical learning disability, the K-Mat test was used and the syndrome checklist was used to diagnose dyslexia. Corsi Blocks Task software was also used to measure the visual-spatial perception of working memory. The One-way ANOVA was used for data analysis. Results: The results showed that the difference between normal students, dyslexic students, and those with visual-spatial abilities was significant (F=10.11, p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference between students with math disorder and dyslexia in the visual-spatial ability of working memory (P> 0.34). Conclusion: Students with math learning difficulties and dyslexia had poor performance in the visual-spatial perception of working memory compared to normal students.

Teaching Multiplication to Students with Mathematical Learning Disabilities (MLD): Analysis of Preservice Teachers’ Lesson Design

This qualitative study investigated 17 preservice teachers’ lesson design for teaching multiplication to an average performing student and a student with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD). Findings reveal how preservice teachers differentiate mathematics instruction to meet the needs of students. They modified mathematical strategies by providing diverse multiplicative concepts and fitting the form of representations. They accommodated lesson design by setting their expectations based on individual needs, managing instructional structure and progress, and adjusting the cognitive demand of tasks. Some formative assessment skills demonstrated how they understood students’ mathematical thinking and responded to it. The needs for further attention and support in lesson differentiation, including content-oriented alternation for equitable responsive teaching and moving away from short-term solutions to sustainable support, were discussed.

EXPLORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERVENTION FOR A PUPIL WITH MATHEMATICAL LEARNING DIFFICULTIES: A CASE STUDY

This study presents a single case study of how a remedial mathematics teacher incorporated an instructional intervention into her teaching practices in order to teach counting to a pupil with mathematical learning difficulties. This new theory-driven intervention was developed by the authors of this study. Dyscalculia is a term which refers to a wide range of mathematical learning difficulties or disabilities. Dyscalculic pupils have a specific mathematics learning disorder with a core deficit in representing and processing of numerosity. They might not be able to recognise numerical quantities, performing counting and so on. Early supports such as interventions have a great potential in helping dyscalculic pupils to improve mathematical skills. However, there remains a lack of appropriate instructional scaffolds to help dyscalculic pupils to organise their learning structures by addressing both cognitive deficits and mathematical skills. The present study involves a primary school remedial teacher, Daisy, and an at-risk dyscalculic pupil, David, both pseudonyms. Data were collected through interviews, lesson observations, and reflective journals. The findings revealed that the proposed intervention improved the counting ability of the pupil.

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

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.

The importance of working memory in children with Dyscalculia and Ageometria

This article is a literature review about Dyscalculia and Ageometria which are part of specific learning disabilities (LD) in Mathematics. Initially, some possible causes of LD are presented. Types of dyscalculia are then listed and the article goes on focusing on Working Memory (WM) and Mathematical Anxiety which play an important role in students’ performance in Mathematics.

A Systematic Review of Mathematics Interventions for Middle‐School Students Experiencing Mathematics Difficulty

AbstractIn this systematic review, we explored mathematics interventions for middle school (Grades 6, 7, and 8) implemented with students who experienced difficulty in the area of mathematics, including students with an identified learning disability in mathematics. A total of 72 single‐subject and group comparison studies met inclusion criteria, with 59 studies demonstrating positive effects on student‐level mathematics outcomes. The majority of mathematics interventions focused on foundational, prealgebraic skills (e.g., operations and problem solving) related to algebraic reasoning. To understand the landscape of effective mathematics interventions and inform instruction within mathematics intervention, we identified six instructional components used with regularity within the effective studies. These components included explicit instruction, multiple representations, problem‐solving instruction, mathematical language, mnemonics, and graphic organizers.

Mathematics Disability vs. Learning Disability: A 360 Degree Analysis.

A fundamental issue for research in mathematics disability (MD) and reading disability (RD) is: If these disabilities are clearly distinct, why is there so high a level of comorbidity, together with the converse; if these disabilities are so similar, why are there clear differences in underlying causes and aetiology? In order to address this puzzle, we introduce the “360 degree analysis” (360DA) framework and apply it to the overlap between RD and MD. The 360DA process starts by analyzing the issue from four perspectives: theoretical, developmental, affective, and pedagogical. Under 360DA, these analyses are then integrated to provide insights for theory, and for individual assessment and support, together with directions for future progress. The analyses confirm extensive similarities between arithmetic and reading development in terms of rote learning, executive function (EF), and affective trauma, but also major differences in terms of the conceptual needs, the motor coordination needs, and the methods of scaffolding. In terms of theory, commonalities are interpreted naturally in terms of initial general developmental delay followed by domain-independent affective trauma following school failure. Dissociations are interpreted in terms of cerebellar vs. hippocampal learning networks, sequential vs. spatial processing, and language vs. spatial scaffolding, with a further dimension of the need for accurate fixation for reading. The framework has significant theoretical and applied implications.

Intensive Word Problem Solving for Students With Learning Disabilities in Mathematics

State exams frequently use word problems to measure mathematics performance, making difficulties with word problem solving a barrier for many students with learning disabilities (LD) in mathematics. Based on meta-analytic data for students with LD, five empirically validated word-problem strategies are presented, with components of model-based problem solving (MBPS) highlighted.

The Effects of Concrete-Representational-Abstract Sequence Instruction on Fractions for Chinese Elementary Students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities

The Effects of Concrete-Representational-Abstract Sequence Instruction on Fractions for Chinese Elementary Students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities

Case Study on Augmented Reality, Digital and Physical Modelling with Mathematical Learning Disabilities Students in an Elementary School in Luxemburg

This paper reports on a case study of two elementary school students with mathematical learning disabilities (MLD) (ages 10 and 11) using augmented reality (AR), digital and physical modelling in mathematics class. MLD students worked on modelling geometric shapes (cubes, cuboids, squared pyramids, and octahedrons) and forms (polygons) by combining real-world objects with AR and creating a copy of geometric shapes or missing parts with a 3D printing device. The study focused on the development of process skills and mathematical concepts, tried to identify changes in the visualspatial memory, and documented the learning behaviour in class. Further, we collected data through task-based interviews with both students. Based on our findings, we present settings and manipulatives which are likely to foster process skills and mathematical concepts in geometry tasks suitable for MLD elementary school students.

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA).

Learning mathematics is a complex process that requires the development of multiple domain-general and domain-specific skills. It is therefore not unexpected that many children struggle to stay at grade level, and this becomes especially difficult when several abilities from both domains are impaired, as in the case of mathematical learning disabilities (MLD). Surprisingly, although MLD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting schoolchildren, most of the diagnostic instruments available do not include assessment of domain-general and domain-specific skills. Furthermore, very few are computerized. To the best of our knowledge, there is no tool with these features for Spanish-speaking children. The purpose of this study was to describe the protocol for the diagnosis of Spanish MLD children using the BM-PROMA multimedia battery. BM-PROMA facilitates the evaluation of both skill domains, and the 12tasks included for this purpose are empirically evidence-based. The strong internal consistency of BM-PROMA and its multidimensional internal structure are demonstrated. BM-PROMA proves to be an appropriate tool for diagnosing children with MLD during primary education. It provides a broad cognitive profile for the child, which will be relevant not only for diagnosis but also for individualized instructional planning.