À propos de la dyscalculie spatiale: Une contribution clinique

Abstract

Psychologue au Centre Claude-Bernard (Paris) et au CMPP de Beaumont/Oise (Val d Oise). The use of the term « dyscalculia » in the child, regularly encountered in scientific literature, poses a certain number of questions which will be mentioned here in the preamble to a study of one of the representative forms of this developmental pathology called « spatial dyscalcuUa ». This trouble is characterized by spécifie difficulties of acquisition in mathematics which deal selectively with visuo-spatial aspects and the practical application of numerical abilities. In this article, we propose to question the overall picture of spatial dyscalculia from a clinical point of view by means of a detailed presentation of three cases of children encountered in the framework of evaluations and remedial work in mathematics. Each time, the particularities of their mathematical productions will be put into perspective with the cognitive and psycho (patho) logical functioning. We will examine the question of the causal link which may unite these different factors or the mutual repercussions which can exist between cognitive and psychological difficulties. The present clinical study leads us to believe that spatial dyscalculia is a clinical picture which may be retained for its descriptive value but which is likely to be a part of very different individual problem configurations whose specificity must be pinpointed so as to formulate the best possible therapeutic strategies.