Dyscalculia: Why so many children struggle with numbers

A lower primary pupil is helped by his teacher to solve a mathematical problem on the board. [Getty Images]

You've probably heard of dyslexia, but have you heard of dyscalculia before? Maybe not, given that children with dyscalculia - or mathematical learning difficulties - are less likely to be diagnosed.

In fact, research shows that children with dyslexia are more than a hundred times more likely to receive a diagnosis and educational support than children with dyscalculia. This is despite the fact that dyslexia and dyscalculia are expected to be equally common.