Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand numerical information and acquire mathematical skills.
Tara Sutaria has opened up about a personal challenge that affects an important part of her life. While discussing financial literacy and why women should understand money management, the actress revealed that she has dyscalculia—a learning disorder that affects mathematical and number-related skills.
During an interview with Hauterrfly, Tara said, “I am lucky because my dad helps me with my finances. It is very important to know everything about your banking work, your paperwork, and how to properly manage your finances as a woman.
Explaining why she relies on additional support, the actress added, “I try to understand as much as I can, but I have a learning disability—a maths learning disability. It is called dyscalculia. I try, but more often than not I make a mistake. I need my team. My accounts team looks into everything.”
Her disclosure draws attention to a condition that is often dismissed as simply being “bad at maths”. However, dyscalculia can affect much more than classroom calculations.
Dyscalculia is a learning disorder that affects a person’s ability to understand numerical information and acquire mathematical skills. It may make it difficult to recognise quantities, recall mathematical facts or perform calculations.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, dyscalculia affects the areas and processes of the brain involved in understanding numbers and mathematics. Symptoms generally become noticeable during childhood, although some people reach adulthood without recognising that they have the condition.
It is sometimes informally described as “maths dyslexia”, but the two are different. Dyslexia primarily affects reading and language-related abilities, while dyscalculia involves numbers and mathematical reasoning.
How Does Dyscalculia Affect Maths Skills?
Solving even a simple mathematical problem requires several skills to work together. A person must recognise the numbers and symbols, remember what they represent, understand the quantity involved and recall the method required to solve the problem.
Dyscalculia can interfere with one or more of these processes. A person may struggle with:
The difficulties can vary considerably. One person may struggle mainly with mental arithmetic, while another may find it hard to understand mathematical symbols or retain numerical information.
It Can Affect Everyday Life Too
Dyscalculia does not remain confined to schoolwork. Numbers are involved in numerous everyday activities, including checking bills, managing a bank account, following a recipe and planning a journey.
Cambridge University Hospitals notes that the condition can make using finances and numbers in daily life challenging. It may also affect reading timetables, making appointments, remembering numerical information or following directions.
Teenagers and adults with dyscalculia may find it difficult to:
Tara’s reliance on her father and accounts team illustrates how these difficulties can influence financial management, even when a person understands the importance of handling money responsibly.
What Are The Early Signs In Children?
Signs frequently become more noticeable when a child begins learning basic mathematics. A child with dyscalculia may struggle to connect a written number with the quantity it represents. For example, they may not immediately understand that the numeral four corresponds to four objects.
Occasional mistakes do not necessarily indicate dyscalculia. Persistent difficulties that remain despite appropriate teaching and practice require professional assessment.
Does Dyscalculia Affect Intelligence?
No. Dyscalculia does not mean that a person has low intelligence or lacks the willingness to learn.
The Cleveland Clinic states that difficulties with mathematical processing do not make someone less intelligent or less capable. People with the condition may have strong abilities in creative thinking, language, art, problem-solving or other areas.
Labelling children as careless, lazy or unintelligent can damage their confidence and increase anxiety around mathematics. Recognising the condition can help them receive support suited to how they learn.
How Is Dyscalculia Diagnosed?
There is no blood test, brain scan or single medical test that can confirm dyscalculia. Assessment generally examines a person’s number sense, calculation skills and mathematical reasoning while considering their age and educational background.
Professionals may also rule out other factors that could affect learning, including vision or hearing problems. Teachers and parents are often the first to notice persistent difficulties in children, after which an educational specialist or qualified healthcare professional may conduct a detailed assessment.
Dyscalculia should not be self-diagnosed solely based on disliking mathematics or occasionally making calculation errors.
Can Dyscalculia Be Managed?
Dyscalculia is considered a lifelong condition, but appropriate support can reduce its impact. Early, personalised teaching can help children build mathematical skills and learn strategies suited to their needs. Useful approaches may include:
Adults can use technology and support systems to minimise mistakes and manage daily responsibilities. Tara’s decision to involve her father and accounts team is one example of building a practical safety net rather than allowing the condition to prevent financial participation.
Dyscalculia may make numbers difficult, but with recognition, suitable tools and supportive people, it does not have to determine a person’s abilities or independence.