Can't do simple addition? Can add three digits!

He could have a form of dyscalculia which interferes with basic math memorizations or he could just have severe anxiety that causes him to have difficulty processing it.

You might want to see if teaching him TouchMath (http://www.touchmath.com) would help him get over that.

When my dd was younger I taught her TouchMath because she was struggling so much with basic math facts but understood the math concepts that were taught. TouchMath gave her confidence to do the basic math skills and she went from dreading math to it being one of her favorite and most successful classes.

scifinut mom to: ms 16, bp/adhd/anxiety/complex ld mr. 20, add/dyslexic I hear and I forget I see and I remember I do and I understand. -Anonymous

Thank you both.

Geodob, your website and the finger counting demonstration are very helpful. I've long believed that DS' math issue is subtle, but disabling. My husband and I considered tutoring, but sensed that it wouldn't be effective without understanding the cause of the problem.

We are awaiting the results of an assessment, so this information will go with us later today.

We know that DS is very bright, and has strong verbal skills. He excels in every area except math, which is below grade level. I don't subscribe to his previous school's belief that he can use a calculator in upper grades, so why worry about it. The gap on his report card has become more distinct with each year: he moves to the top of his class in reading (three years ahead of grade level), and to the bottom of the class in math.

Remedial help at his new school has not bridged the gap, so the school offered LD assessment.

No matter what, we will be teaching him this finger counting method. DS tells us that he thinks in pictures, not words, so I'm pretty sure this will work for him.