Mathematics math is not only the science of numbers, but also is used in everyday life from calculating time and distance, to handling money and analyzing data to make decisions in financial planning and insurance purchasing, and is essential in the STEM science, technology, engineering and math fields.
In early childhood, counting is learned to bridge this innate capacity to more advanced math abilities like arithmetic facts and concepts 1. Math is a core subject taught in primary and higher education, which builds a foundation of math skills for real life situations. Numeracy is the knowledge and skills required to effectively manage and respond to the mathematical demands of diverse situations 2 , and is a necessary skill in both blue-collar and professional work places.
Analyses in both the United Kingdom UK and United States US revealed that poor numeracy skills impacted employment opportunities and wages, even in the presence of adequate literacy skills 3 , 4. This has led to recommendations in the US aimed at improving math education, around curricular content, learning processes, instructional practices and materials, assessment, and teacher education 7.
New standards like the Common Core State Standards CCSS currently adopted in 42 states, District of Columbia and four territories are designed to be relevant to the real world, while preparing students for post-secondary education and careers 8. Terminology utilized to describe children who have difficulties with math varies in the literature depending upon how the study populations are defined and what instruments are used.
Generally speaking, the term mathematical difficulties refers to children whose poor mathematics achievement is caused by a variety of factors from poor instruction to environmental factors, and represents a broader construct than does the term math disability MD. Children with mathematical difficulties have low average performance or poor performance in math, but not all children with mathematical difficulties will have MD, which is hypothesized to be due to an inherent weakness in mathematical cognition not attributable to sociocultural or environmental causes 9.
