Dyslexia has specific difficulties in writing and spelling problems and sometimes a specific problem in mathematic included (British Dyslexia Association, 2002). Traditionally, dyslexia has concentrated mainly on literacy – the learning of the reading and spelling processes. But some dyslexic difficulties also transmit into the learning of mathematics. Research results, based on initial studies, claim that about 60% of dyslexics have some problems with school maths (Chinn & Ashcroft 1998).
Of the 40% of dyslexics who don’t seem to have maths difficulties, about 11% of dyslexics do well in mathematics and the rest (29%) do as well as children of the same age, who have no learning difficulties. Surveys say that between 2-4 per cent of people may have severe dyslexia about one in each classroom – and more may have milder forms (Yeo, 2003). It is therefore significant that all teachers are aware of methods to help dyslexics. Many dyslexic children and teens have problems in some fields of maths, particularly the multiplication tables, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and statistics.
A dyslexic student usually requires extra teaching, particularly as new concepts are introduced. With this subject, it is important to grasp each concept completely before moving on. If not instructed appropriately in maths, it will become yet another thing to load down their self-esteem. Although research has indicated that difficulties in language experienced by dyslexic people frequently go hand in hand with difficulties in mathematics, there has been too little emphasis on expert study for those having problems with maths (Henderson 1989a).
With the help of specialist teaching and the introduction of significant strategies into their learning, these people can be assisted to get higher levels of mathematical understanding and functioning. In this paper we will examine how dyslexia can affect the learning of mathematics and how cognitive weakness can affect mathematics learning for dyslexic learners then explore how to assess and diagnose the mathematics difficulties for student with dyslexia I will also consider how to facilitate mathematical learning in children with dyslexia.