Arithmetic (Re-)Learning in Neurological Patients

Abstract

Abstract. Background: Numbers are an integral part of our life. Being competent with numbers is crucial for coping with the challenging demands of our modern times. Anyone who lacks basic numerical and calculation skills due to, for example, lower education, developmental disorders or acquired brain damage is socially disadvantaged and destined to remain marginalized. Improvement of basic numerical and calculation skills must therefore be an important goal of cognitive rehabilitation and intervention. Methods: We summarize the most recent studies regarding the rehabilitation of simple calculation deficits in adult neurological patients. Results: Over the last decades, several studies have reported acquired selective deficits in number processing and calculation skills in adult brain-damaged patients. It has also been shown in single case-studies that targeted rehabilitation based on theoretical neuropsychological models may lead to significant improvements of acquired deficits. Discussion: Systematic interventions may be successful in the case of acquired calculation deficits. Improvement of numerical competence in adult patients are possible even in very unfavorable circumstances (e.g., chronic stage, older age, severe deficits). This finding is of high relevance as numbers are essential in our daily life, and deficits in number processing may have a strong impact on a person's every-day autonomy.