Problem
Mathematical ignorance
Other Names:
Dependence on innumeracyNumber-blindness
Dyscalculia
Acalculalia
Developmental arithmetic disorder
Innumeracy
Impairments of calculation
Difficulties learning mathematics
Inability to do maths
Nature:
Even after receiving an education to an acceptable level of literacy, some people may continue to have great difficulty in understanding and manipulating numbers. In its extreme form, this revulsion against numbers has been termed number blindness. Acalculia, which is the inability to perform arithmetic operations, is seen most commonly with parietal lobe lesions.
Incidence:
There have been few estimates of the extent of this problem, but it has been widely accepted that numbers do not mean much to most people although this is generally not the case where monetary questions are at issue. Otherwise well educated people fall victim all to often to the extreme misinterpretation of statistics which makes "pseudoscience" - phrenology, parapsychology, predictive dreams, astrology and television evangelism - so influential in daily life.
Broader Problems:
IgnoranceMental illness Scientific ignoranceFunctional illiteracyDevelopmental disabilitiesLack of emphasis on basic education Related Problems:
IlliteracyWilliams syndromeLearning disordersIgnorance of grammarReading disabilitiesGeographical illiteracyLimited writing abilityDevelopmental receptive language disorder Strategies:
Treating number-blindnessCoping with innumeracy Subject(s):
Development → Development Education → Education
Education → Educational level
Fundamental Sciences → Mathematics
Health Care → Handicapped
Health Care → Mental health
Societal Problems → Dependence
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
D: Detailed problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST