Not necessarily. Poor instruction, other disorders such as anxiety or ADHD, or familial problems such as poverty or instability may make it more difficult for some children to grasp new concepts or focus in math class. What’s more, many children find math difficult at one point or another, and age-appropriate math challenges are not necessarily indicative of dyscalculia. Parents who are concerned about their child’s math abilities should first talk to the child’s teacher; he or she can help determine whether a child’s challenges are unusual for his age and whether an evaluation might be called for.