1/7. Acquired procedural dyscalculia associated to a left parietal lesion in a child.We report the case of an 11-year-old boy who developed an anarithmetia in association with a left temporo-parietal tumor. His oral and written language were normal as well as his ability to judge magnitudes, process numbers, read operation signs and retrieve number facts. He had a specific difficulty in performing the procedures of subtraction, especially when it involved borrowing. These skills had been mastered before the present illness. This case shows that the components of calculation can be dissociated by brain lesions sustained during childhood, while arithmetic abilities are being acquired, thus reinforcing findings from developmental dyscalculias, that suggest a modular organisation of those skills during development.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/7. More evidence for the role of the central executive in retrieving arithmetic facts - a case study of severe developmental dyscalculia.It has been shown repeatedly that simple mental calculation depends not only on long-term memory (LTM) representations but also on working memory (WM) resources. The study describes the performance of an adolescent, M.O., exhibiting severe developmental dyscalculia, but literacy problems as well. Despite having relatively preserved procedural skills, M.O. exhibited outstanding difficulties in retrieving arithmetic facts which are most pronounced on multiplication and division problems. Interestingly, his performance on non-numerical memory tests was within average (independent of modality), while his attention span was just below average. Testing the different components of WM, the results emphasize the major role of the central executive in solving simple mental calculations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/7. Glutaric aciduria type I associated with learning disability.The authors report a 7-year-8-months-old boy with glutaric aciduria type I who had associated dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia. The diagnosis of glutaric aciduria type I was confirmed on the basis of characteristic neuroimaging and biochemical findings. Axial T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scan of the brain showed fronto-temporal atrophy, open opercula and bat-wing dilatation of the sylvian fissures. Axial T[2]-weighted and FLAIR imaging showed hyperintense signal abnormality in both putamen and in the fronto-parietal deep white matter. Urinary aminoacidogram by thin layer chromatography revealed a generalized aminoaciduria. Urinary organic acid analysis by gas chromatography- mass spectroscopy revealed a marked excretion of glutaric acid. Psychoeducational testing was used to diagnose the learning disability. We postulate that the accumulation of glutaric acid and other metabolites was responsible for the child developing the associated learning disability.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/7. Developmental dyscalculia.Developmental dyscalculia is a specific learning disability affecting the normal acquisition of arithmetic skills. Genetic, neurobiologic, and epidemiologic evidence indicates that dyscalculia, like other learning disabilities, is a brain-based disorder. However, poor teaching and environmental deprivation have also been implicated in its etiology. Because the neural network of both hemispheres comprises the substrate of normal arithmetic skills, dyscalculia can result from dysfunction of either hemisphere, although the left parietotemporal area is of particular significance. The prevalence of developmental dyscalculia is 5 to 6% in the school-aged population and is as common in girls as in boys. dyscalculia can occur as a consequence of prematurity and low birthweight and is frequently encountered in a variety of neurologic disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental language disorder, epilepsy, and fragile x syndrome. Developmental dyscalculia has proven to be a persisting learning disability, at least for the short term, in about half of affected preteen pupils. Educational interventions for dyscalculia range from rote learning of arithmetic facts to developing strategies for solving arithmetic exercises. The long-term prognosis of dyscalculia and the role of remediation in its outcome are yet to be determined.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.2keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/7. Psychiatric implications of language disorders and learning disabilities: risks and management.This article reviews the relationship between different learning disabilities, language disorders, and the psychiatric disorders that are commonly associated with learning disabilities and language disorder: attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depression, and conduct or antisocial personality disorder. The complex associations between language disorders and specific learning disabilities--dyslexia, nonverbal learning disorder, dyscalculia--and the various psychiatric disorders are discussed. Clinical vignettes are presented to highlight the impact of these disorders on a child's social and psychological development and the importance of early recognition and treatment.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/7. Developmental Gerstmann's syndrome.The tetrad of finger agnosia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and right-left disorientation make up Gerstmann's syndrome. The tetrad has been infrequently described in children with learning disability and has been called developmental Gerstmann's syndrome (DGS). Developmental Gerstmann's syndrome may occur in brain-damaged and apparently normal children. Five children in whom DGS occurred in association with brain abnormalities underwent long-term observation, which indicated persistence of the deficits. The identification of these cases suggests that DGS may not be as rare as previously thought and may often be unrecognized. Testing for the Gerstmann elements in learning-disabled children may identify otherwise undiagnosed cases of DGS and should be routinely employed in the neurologic examination. Until appropriate teaching methods for DGS are found, "bypassing" the deficits and utilizing the child's strengths, plus counseling, seem to offer an effective treatment approach.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/7. Developmental gerstmann syndrome: case report and review of the literature.The tetrad of finger agnosia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and right-left confusion constitutes the gerstmann syndrome (GS). A case of developmental gerstmann syndrome (DGS) that occurred in a normal, highly intelligent child with exceptional reading skills is reported, together with a review of the literature. DGS occurs in both brain-damaged and seemingly normal children. Multiple neurological and behavioral manifestations coexisting with the Gerstmann elements suggest brain injury, whereas the occurrence of the Gerstmann tetrad (plus constructional apraxia) in an otherwise normal and intelligent child implies what is herein referred to as "constitutional." The scarcity of reported cases indicates the rarity of the syndrome in children. Routine testing for the Gerstmann elements in learning-disabled children may uncover unrecognized cases.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = dyscalculia (Clic here for more details about this article) |