Author: Brett McCardel, MS, CCC-SLP
Difficulty with numbers and math following neurological damage is known as acalculia ๐ง ๐ขโฃ
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Many people with aphasia experience number processing and math troubles, with recent estimates suggesting that between 30% and 60% of stroke survivors experience acalculia (Moore & Demeyre, 2022; Zukic et al., 2012). โฃ
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Symptoms of acalculia can vary from person to person, with the research literature highlighting difficulties in areas such as:โฃ
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๐ธNumber comprehension and production โฃ
๐ธEstimating and comparing number sizeโฃ
๐ธRote verbal and quantitative knowledge for memorized arithmetic facts like counting, multiplication tables, and single-digit operationsโฃ
๐ธUnderstanding arithmetic signs and rulesโฃ
๐ธSolving multi-digit math operationsโฃ
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In order to better conceptualize and understand why these symptoms and dissociations can occur, several cognitive models of arithmetic processing have been developedโmost notably the Triple-Code Model (Dehaene, 1992) and a cognitive neuropsychological model of number processing and calculation by McClosky et al (1985). โฃ
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Though an area often overlooked in aphasia management, the acalculia research literature provides suggestions for assessment, treatment, and management for clinicians working with acalculia. โฃ
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๐๐๐๐ฒ๐๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ: โฃ
๐นNumerical Assessment of Daily Living (Burgio et al., 2022)โฃ
๐นNumber Processing and Calculation Battery (Delazer et al., 2009)โฃ
๐นJohnโs Hopkins Dyscalculia Batteryโฃ
๐นFeifer Assessment of Mathematics โฃ
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๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ:โฃ
๐นAblinger et al. (2006)โs Numerical โฃ
Transcoding approach โฃ
๐นCapasso (2012)โs Arithmetic Procedures approachโฃ
๐นZamarian et al. (2019)โs Complex Numerical Concepts approaches โฃ
๐นโDrillโ approaches for re-establishing arithmetic facts (Domahs & Delazer, 2005)โฃ
๐นโConceptualโ approaches to assist in completing simple calculations(Girelli et al., 2002; Domahs et al., 2003)โฃ
๐นArithmetic text/word problems approaches (Fasotti, 1992)โฃ
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Stay tuned for upcoming posts that dive more in-depth on acalculia classifications, theoretical models, assessment procedures, and treatment approaches! โฃ
#acalculia #dyscalculia #aphasia #aphasiatherapy #medslp #speechlanguagepathology #speechtherapy #stroke #math #arithmetic #mathskills