If you've struggled with math, You're Not Alone

And there's a reason it feels so deep.

If you've faced lifelong challenges with math, you're not imagining the impact it's had on your life. Research shows that mathematical learning disabilities - like dyscalculia- often lead to deeper and more lasting effects than reading difficulties. They’re linked not just to academic struggles, but to emotional well-being, mental health, and employment outcomes well into adulthood.

A growing body of international research shows that math difficulties increase the risk of dropping out of school, unemployment, and even the use of antidepressant medication later in life. In fact, people with math-based learning disabilities were found to have more mental health challenges in adulthood than those with reading difficulties (Aro et al., 2023; Eloranta et al., 2021).

From age 27 onward, those with poor numeracy skills were the least likely to be employed, regardless of how well they could read (Parsons & Bynner, 2005). Other studies confirm that these patterns appear across different countries—including Finland, the UK, and the U.S.

These findings don’t define your worth—but they do explain why things might have felt harder for you in ways others haven’t always understood. Dyscalculia is real. Its impact is real. And you deserve support, not shame.

xxxSasu