Not even Posh Spice could escape childhood bullying.
Victoria Beckham opened up this week about being taunted and teased at school, revealing she struggled “enormously” with her academics.
“I’m a self-diagnosed dyslexic. I suffer from dyscalculia,” the fashion designer said during an Oct. 22 appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. “All those things that weren’t recognized when I was a kid. They just called me ‘thick.’”
Beckham, 51, described herself “quite an awkward child” who was more focused on dance and drama lessons than fitting in with classmates, who she said threw cans at her on the playground.
“My entire school life was miserable,” the former Spice Girl said.
Here’s everything you need to know about dyscalculia, the little-known learning disorder that made her classroom years a constant struggle.
What is dyscalculia?
It’s a learning disorder that makes it difficult to understand and work with numbers and math, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Scientists aren’t exactly sure what causes it, but research shows that people with dyscalculia often have differences in brain areas like the parietal and frontal lobes, which handle number processing.
Studies also show it can run in families, hinting at a possible genetic link.
Some people develop acquired dyscalculia later in life. This isn’t considered a learning disorder, instead, it usually occurs after brain damage that affects math skills.
How common is dyscalculia?
While less well-known than dyslexia, dyscalculia is more common than you might think.
Up to 7% of elementary school children have it, meaning a typical classroom may have one or two students struggling with numbers, according to the Learning Disabilities Association of America.
Research shows a significant overlap with dyslexia, with up to 40% of kids with reading struggles also having trouble with math.
What are the signs of dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia usually shows up in childhood, but many adults have the learning disorder and don’t realize it, according to the Child Mind Institute.
In the classroom, signs may include:
- Trouble recognizing numbers
- Counting slowly or relying on fingers, even for small numbers
- Difficulty linking numerals to words (5 vs. “five”)
- Struggling with patterns and sequencing
- Trouble learning math functions, multiplication tables and fractions
- Difficulty solving multi-step word problems
In daily life, people with dyscalculia may experience:
- Trouble measuring or following recipes
- Struggles with money, tips or estimating costs
- Forgetting numbers like phone numbers or zip codes
- Difficulty judging distances or travel time
- Trouble remembering directions or telling left from right
- Problems reading clocks and telling time
In addition, people with dyscalculia often experience anxiety, depression or other stress when confronted with numbers.
Can it be treated?
There’s no cure, but children can improve with early intervention. Treatment usually involves one-on-one programs with a specialized teacher who can help the students learn how to approach math in a more effective way.
For adults, dyscalculia isn’t considered treatable unless it’s acquired later in life. That’s because their brains are fully developed.
For older patients, treatment typically centers around learning coping strategies, including how to use technology and other practical workarounds to compensate for the disability.
Acquired dyscalculia in adults may be treatable, but it depends on the underlying cause.
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