Journal of Childhood & Developmental Disorders

Heterogeneity of Developmental Dyscalculia: Cases with Different Deficit Profiles

Context: The aim was to further understand the heterogeneity of developmental dyscalculia (DD). Utilizing four children (8-9 year-old) performance was contrasted against predominant hypotheses of DD. Case report: Despite showing similar mathematical deficits, these children showed remarkable inter-individual variability regarding cognitive profile and deficits. Two cases were consistent with the approximate number system deficit account, and the general magnitude-processing deficit account. One case had an access deficit in combination with a general cognitive deficit. One cases suffered from general cognitive deficits only. Conclusion: The results showed that DD cannot be attributed to a single explanatory factor. These findings support a multiple deficits account of DD and suggest that some cases have multiple deficits, whereas other cases have a single deficit. We discuss a previously proposed distinction between primary DD and secondary DD, and suggest hypotheses of dysfunctional neurocognitive correlates responsible for the displayed deficits.

Author(s):

Ulf Träff, Linda Olsson, Rickard Östergren and Kenny Skagerlund

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