Kids who find maths tough need more helpCBBC Newsround UK: 11th September, 2003.Kids who find maths difficult may be struggling because of the way their brains work out the numbers.
A new study has shown that around 5% of children suffer from something called dyscalculia - which makes it hard to do even simple sums.
It's a bit like dyslexia - where people get letters mixed up and find it difficult to read - but it's nowhere near as well-known.
Experts reckon that if children were given more help, perhaps being allowed to use calculators more, then they wouldn't find maths lessons so tough.
Professor Brian Butterworth, an expert on the way we think, said teachers and parents and other kids often think sufferers are stupid, even though they definitely aren't.
The scientist added that some people with dyscalculia are really good at doing very complicated maths, but still need help with the basics.
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