Is It Math Anxiety or a Math LD?

January 7, 2025

By Erin P. Micali, Psy.D

Math is a polarizing topic. For some kids it’s their favorite subject. For others, the thought of numbers sends a cold sweat down their spine—literally: Research shows that for these kids math activities trigger the same reaction in their brain that pain and perceived threats do.

Anxiety or LD

Despite what some parents (and even some educators) think, math anxiety is not the same as dyscalculia—the term used to describe math learning disabilities. While both can interfere with your child’s ability to access math-based reasoning skills, there are distinct differences between an LD and anxiety. The most notable distinction is that math LDs are a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, which means that one’s neurological and cognitive development is somewhat different than their peers. 

For most kids with a math learning disorder, underlying signs (“soft signs”) of dyscalculia are apparent in early childhood. They may have difficulty recognizing numbers, learning to count, have a hard time with pattern reasoning and benefit from visuals to complete calculations. It may appear that they cannot grasp or retain math-based facts or concepts and this difficulty may extend beyond the classroom: phone numbers, scoreboards, money, or directions are tricky as well. 

A math LD is also less common than math-based anxiety. Despite occurring equally in boys and girls, only about 5-7% of elementary schoolers meet criteria for a math LD diagnosis. As people get older their symptoms of an LD in math may wax and wane in intensity though their learning differences remain a part of their learning profile. 

In contrast, anxiety stemming from math is a mental-health disorder that impacts about 20-25% of children and is more common among females. Math anxiety can pop up in elementary, middle, or even high school. People may experience anxiety for a short period until they receive treatment, master a concept, or through adulthood. While anxiety may resurface from time to time, it is not linked to differences in the brain as math LDs are.

Math Anxiety Symptoms 

If your child has math anxiety they may be increasingly negative about their skills and performance in math as compared to other courses. Other tell-tale signs include challenges with motivating your child to do math, avoiding math, or a pile of missed assignments as a means of procrastinating. When doing math they may appear more tense or stressed. If their anxiety is escalating, they may show signs of panic or avoidance, and you may notice patterns such as your child consistently being sick or asking to stay home on test days. This may not be “faking illness” but rather a physical symptom of their anxiety!  

Still Unsure?

Following are some questions to help you determine if your child has math anxiety or math LD:

  • Does it appear as if your child is learning a new math concept for the first time, every time they review a concept they’ve presumably been taught?
  • Do you have to reteach your child the same thing over and over again?
  • When did you first notice these symptoms?
  • Is my child having a difficult time learning math concepts or are they more resistant to math?
  • Do they avoid math class?

What You Can Do

Some of the treatments of math-based LDs and anxiety overlap, while others are significantly different. 

  • Both anxiety and LDs benefit from early, frequent intervention and being taught the growth mindset. You can help your child outgrow math-based anxieties by reframing their worries and providing positive reinforcement and encouragement. 
  • Additionally, at times, anxiety can stem from children needing help mastering concepts or re-learning a tricky unit. In these instances (especially when the child has not yet grasped foundational concepts) anxiety can present as LDs. In these times reteaching and rehearsals of information is helpful. When treating anxiety, you are targeting underlying self-confidence associated with a child’s belief in their abilities. 
  • Kids learn from their environment, so promoting a healthy relationship while discussing emotions is important. Talk about anxiety and model expressing your stress or unease as well as model healthy coping mechanisms. 
  • Help your child to learn study habits and executive functioning tricks. These will help them to feel more prepared for classes.
  • If you’re worried, talk to the teacher about your concerns. They may be able to guide you towards resources for your child. You can also bring it up to the pediatrician or a psychologist to determine if evaluation is needed.

Whether anxiety or LD, you do your child a disservice by not addressing it. If you don’t intervene both anxiety and LD can impact future goal setting, planning and career choices. But more than that, it can leave people vulnerable to avoiding important everyday tasks like budgeting and understanding their finances or salaries. 

Dr. Erin Micali is a senior postdoctoral fellow at Sasco River Center in Darien, CT who specializes in pediatric neuropsychology. Her focus areas include neurodevelopmental disorders and early childhood evaluations. 

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