I am an educator for the past 30 years recently retiring and becoming a consultant to the Institution with students having Learning Disabilities. Yes. I am also a special teacher. I have read a lot about 'dyslexia', ADHD, ADD and other LDs. This particular disability of Discalculia exists in all these LD students. The only exception being children who are 'autistic'. I hope I am right. I am just a teacher who has done a diploma course in LD under the able guidance of a pediatrician and I have educated myself only through books and on hand experiments with students. I very much liked reading about 'Discalculia'. Is it okay for me to use your article quoting the names of people who have been actively involved in this to talk to parents and let them know the truth behind 'Discalculia'?

Posted: 20 April 2007 16:11:25

I am a LD teacher/tutor and I have worked with many dyslexic students. I disagree with the comment in the previous post that all dyslexic students have dyscalcula. Many of them may have it, but I have worked with some students who have no trouble with math, even though they struggle with reading and aspects of language. Also I have found that there are varying degrees of dyslexia(meaning, one student may have a slight amount of dyslexia and others may be more severe), and I believe there could be varying degrees of dyscalcula. I was pleased to see that research is being done with dyscalcula. I have not heard much about it in the past 30 yrs. so now maybe more remediation help will be available for students.

Posted: 20 April 2007 21:34:50

The useful connection with PDD/LD/ADD/ADHD/CD/ODD in terms of educational therapy with comprehensice approaches may lead a basic common theory of modern rise in their incidence or prevalence! How to first target a behavioral deviation with school-driven situation/structured environment/milieu as community therapeutics concerned. Coach/rewards under a special therapeutic facility/classroom. How is its resilience in a friendly peer/interrelationship reconstruction and fostering for the resilience from unmedicated/uncoached proscratinated icarcerated young adult and female spouse with antisocial personality disorder without insights?Is the coercive medications acceptable for this family with AD/HD and disruptive behavioral disorders?

Posted: 23 April 2007 12:18:31

I am a 38yr old mother of 5 children rangeing from the ages 15 to 18mths, i am just about to finish a level 3 teaching assistants course for special needs children.My life has been ruined because of my inability to be able to do maths, my seven yr old son can do better then me, obviously i will not be able to do anything wth my qualifications because i cannot get my level 2 in maths which i need to be able to work with junior children.
My scope would be better suited to reception class i have attended many maths courses, plus the ones on the course i have been doing the maths teacher says he thinks i have discalculia i had never heard of it befor,fortuneatly we had a special speaker come to talk to us at college who had this i was so excited thinking that this woman has universaty degrees so there must be help out there.I listened for two hrs to her tell her life story which practically mirrored my own, only to be told that you can be tested to see if you have it but after that theres no help out there as they dont no enough about it.
I was devastated as she went on to say you can stil have a life as long as you chose a career path that does not envolve maths, i was so upset as i felt like id just wasted a year of my life doing a course were i cant be hired to work with keystage two kids, that il only ever be able to work with reception children.
I later had this confired by the headmaster of a school as he quoted how can you work with juniors if you cant help them as thats the idea of a teaching assistant.I came home and cried for hrs.
Please can anyone out there tell me if theres a way in helping me do maths i feel so stupid i cant even help my own kids never mind anyone elses i must get my level 2 maths and there must be a way out there for me.
If anyone out there knows off anything please can you let me know i dont no if im allowed to print my email address on here so if anyone does no off anything i will keep coming on here to check thankyou for taking the time to read this.

Posted: 02 July 2007 17:51:38

This is in reply to Sharon;
I have only just had my eyes opened to Dyscalculia, after discussing with a colleague my 8 year olds lack of ability in maths yet over achievement in all other subjects,she suggested dyscalculia so of course I googled it. Not only could I 'tick the boxes' for her but for me also and possibly her dad. I spoke to her maths teacher who hadn't heard of it either so together we are going to look into it. What I read explained a lot for me with maths, music and sport and is relevant to me as an adult as I have applied to do a degree - my first time at uni - I'm 34. I am hopeing that if I or my 8 year old need it there will be extra help.
I am aware my experiences are not much help to you but I did wonder if you have accessed anything since your post, and if not have you considered talking how you are feeling through with someone (like a counsellor) because it doesnt sound like you are getting any support at work.

Posted: 16 November 2007 12:54:44

I think i have dyscacuila but the teach just dont seem to pick up on it i am starting to get really fustrated because i just cant learn, understand, or do math. what do i do

Posted: 14 December 2007 01:38:19

This is in reply to Sharon, Harri and Donna.
My son is 17 and I recently had to have him privately assessed because I felt he had a maths difficulty and as Harri says ticked most of the boxes for dyscalculia. He was diagnosed with non verbal learning difficulties and is dyscalculic. I'm also googling to get info to find out how he can cope in life situations and work. I keep checking every few months to see if anything new has been discovered. I have a background in special needs and was a support worker. The Dyslexia Action have been very good but the snag is that it costs money to get help from them. This is where I got my son tested. Not many people do know exactly what dyscalculia is and I believe there are different forms or varying degrees of it. Prof Brian Butterworth is a neuro pyschologist and is doing research into it. He's also written a couple of books one called "The Mathmatical Brain" but again this is very expensive to buy - over £70 second hand.
I'm sorry I can't give more information but that is the most I know myself at the moment,

Posted: 06 January 2008 15:50:21

I have dyscalculia and found out at the age of 40. Whilst at secondary school I did ok in other subjects, but really panicked about maths lessons. The lessons got so bad, and the teacher lacked understanding that I truanted from school. This affected my self esteem a great deal. What concerns me is that this still happens today.
Five years ago I went to University to complete a Degree in English/History. I was thrilled and full of confidence at completing my degree. It gave me the confidence to feel after all these years I was not stupid. However, as my great love was crafts I decided to take my knowledge into Design and technology. This was when my problems started. Universities have little understanding of these conditions and the teacher who taught me at Huddersfield was an old dinasaur. He became so angry with me that he called me 'stupid' in front of the whole class. It was after this that I decided to seek help. I was forced to leave Huddersfield and diagnosed with discalculia. Presently, I am finishing my course at MMU (because I will not be beaten by ignorant teachers) who have been a lot more supportive, although their is still little understanding into the condition.
Unfortunately, for me a return into education has brought back the old demons I experienced when at school. Yet this has only strengthened my resolve in teaching Design and technology. After all I know the emotional turmoil that these poor children suffer through the ignorance of certain individuals. The fact is young people who truant are criticised, but if the system is damaging it might be called self preservation. By gaining an understanding of the condition I have worked through stratagies to cope with dyscalculia, and to be honest most people do not know. I have passed my G.C.S.E maths (only just). For everybody who is affected by this condition, please, please understand you can overcome it by working on stratagies. Maths will always be difficult for me, but I have to believe that the education system is moving towards a more inclusive education for everybody and thats I why I want to be part of it.

Posted: 15 February 2008 21:59:59

I agree with Gaynor, that you can do things despite having dyscalculia. I don't have it myself but as I've written previously my son has it. He has recently passed his driving test with no extra time or help, so there is hope. He has a part time job in a shop which includes handling money and working tills. He does find it a bit challenging but this is the second boss who has told him that he is a very hard worker and one of the best workers he's come across. I also believe that there are things that dyscalculic people can do because of their l.d. e.g. very articulate and good on verbal and remembering verbal as this is something that they have to rely upon because of difficulties with visual information. My son certainly has this talent. I'm trying to 'spread the word' so that as many people as possible hear or read about dyscalculia. The more people hear about it the better so that there is a greater understanding of it in the general population.

Posted: 23 February 2008 16:12:31

I don't live in the U.K., I live in the U.S., but like many of you I've suspected myself of having dyscalculia for a few years now. Part of the problem with me is the U.S. seems to be far behind the U.K. in this matter.
I had looked into a test for dyscalculia from a local hospital. The test cost quite a lot (I can't even remember the number, but it was at least $800) and a call to my insurance company confirmed that they would not cover the testing cost. So that would mean putting out $800 simply to figure out if I have this problem or not! I'm fairly convinced I do have some form of it: I have difficulty remembering numbers, often mixing placement of numbers, switching signs without knowing (+ to - and vise versa), I have difficulty with analog clocks, I have difficulty doing certain mathematical problems, and difficulty managing time and counting out money. What this all adds up to is severe impairment on my part despite no noted lacks in any other subject! Without having to do maths in various subjects, I can pass without any difficulty at all. However, I cannot earn a degree and cannot successfully work even a low-end cashier job as things are now.
What's really distressing is I know I'm not stupid. I could probably major in quite a few subjects and be successful, if only I had normal math skills. I have tried unsuccessfully to take and pass even the most basic pre-algebra courses that the colleges I've been to have offered. I just wish I didn't find myself in such a situation.

Posted: 26 February 2008 14:13:19

hi im nick and i am 17 yrs old.i feel very frustrated because my whole life i could not do math. no matter how much i tried to tell the teachers they would tell me im not trying, or stop being lazy or thats an excuse not to finish you homework. im just so tired of it because i love math but i just can not grasp it and i just dont know were to turn i feel overwelmed because i want to learn math but i just can not for some reason i always forget what we did the day before. do i have a problem in math or am i really what the teacher said i am.

Posted: 29 February 2008 02:24:39

I am a 20 year old college student in the US and I was just diagnosed with dyscalculia. I had always had trouble with math throughout elementary school and high shcool, but my parents just thought it was because I didn't like math. I knew there was something else wrong when i was in my late teens and still needed to use my fingers to count. I have never passed a math class with any higher than a C, and I knew there had to be something else I could do. I found out that through the programs offered at my school i could be assessed for a lot cheaper than a private assessment-so I decided to go through with it. I described to the psychologist my difficulties growing up. I never was able to learn how to tell time, I still can't do simple addition and subtraction in my head, I still to this day cannot tell my left from my right without seriously having to think about it - and many other various problems. After doing the evaluation, she knew right away that i had dyscalculia.
Now I'm going through an even bigger crisis because I've changed my major so many times. I really wanted to be pre-med and go to medical school, but I can't pass the advanced math classes. For the last six months I have been listed as an International Business major and have been taking classes applying to that major. Including College Algebra, which is a prerequisite for all the accounting, statistics, and economics courses that I am required to take with this major. After my evaluation and diagnosis, the psychologists are suggesting that I change my major all together to something that involves no math. My parents have spent all this money on my education, two years of college down the drain because I have to change my major and start all over again. I don't know what to do with myself.
I'm so happy to see that more research is being done about dyscalculia. Personally, I had never even heard about it until I found out that I had it. Maybe this research will help to diagnose children at younger ages so they wont have to be put in the same situation as me.

Posted: 02 March 2008 19:30:07

Since early childhood I knew that I had problems with numbers but due to otherwise being a 'bright' child was ridiculed (by my father and teachers) if I ever pointed out that I couldn't understand the logic, for example with clocks and times tables. Up until recently I couldn't drive because of manual gears - my brain refuses to process what order the gears should go in (which could lead to a rather nasty accident). My friends again thought it was just me being stubborn and defeatist - as my coping mechanism was to learn on an automatic and that was a failure in their eyes. An old school teacher of mine once made me sit two papers because she was intrigued at my processing - I scored very poorly in one (containing algebra etc) but 100% on the other. She theorized that it was because I was artistic and had one side of my brain better developed than the other... it's nice to know It is a condition and not down to stupidity, as I was made to feel.

Posted: 11 March 2008 21:41:57

Like many here, I had always suspected there must be such a thing as a learning disability in math, since math comprehension had evaded me for so many years despite a great deal of effort. In junior college, I finally went to the learning disability department and asked them if there was such a thing as a math disability, and they said no. Devastating! How could everything else be so normal and math be so impossible?! A few years later, after dropping yet another painful fast-moving Algebra class, I decided those rats in the learning disabilities office MUST have been wrong. I paid the $650 or so to have the tests, and discovered that there IS such a thing as a math learning disability, and sure enough, I had it.
Happily, at Normandale Community College in Minnesota, there is a remarkable program called the Math Center. In the Math Center, they have a relatively unstructured envronment where students can use computer training, video instruction, CD-ROMs, individual tutors, classes, and study groups to help you grasp math concepts in whichever variety of ways and at whichever speed works best for you. Furthermore, each "chapter" covers a limited range of concepts (one or two), and you can take the test as soon as you feel ready - as soon as you have grasped the concept.
This amazing program allowed me to start at the very beginning - I went back to basic math - and worked my way up to passing college algebra.
Unfortunately, that is as far as the program went. It didn't offer any higher maths in that environment, which would have been amazingly helpful for someone with my limitations.
What I'm saying is that you CAN do it with the right support. It took me longer, but achieving what I was able to achieve at Normandale gave me more confidence.
Because of the nature of my disability, when it comes time to tackle Algebra II and other higher maths, I'm going to have to go back to Normandale start completely over again at basic math and keep going from there - but now I know that, slow going though it may be, I can do this. It takes far more time, effort, and extra help - but it is NOT impossible.
Now if I could just remember my husband's cell phone number...

Posted: 21 March 2008 16:00:46

Jenny, I feel your pain. I am a twenty-one year old college student and I too suffer from the math disability. In addition, I also had a keen interest in International Business and because the calculus, statistics and finance did not appeal to me, I am majoring in International Studies with a concentration in International Business and a minor in Spanish. Perhaps you should try to find a more 'liberal' version of your previous major if it is what you desire. Also, you may find that by creating a more tailored schedule (only taking one math or business class per semester) that you achieve greater results. Best of luck to you!
I would also like to comment that I learned to read and write earlier than most of my peers and have always tested in the 99th verbal percentile. Many people have also tried (and failed) to diagnose me with ADD/ADHD. I think that there is much more to learn about dyscalculia and that we should study each case thoroughly before making generalizations about the common LD\'s in the tested students.

Posted: 01 April 2008 09:20:17

I am a 51 year old college student who just found out about this. I took elementary algebra twice and ended up with a C and pre-algebra twice. Now I am in intermediate Algebra for the second time and failing again. I had a paid tutor all semester, spent hours and hours on homework and just got a 38 on the exam. My kids even told me I have some sort of LD in Math. I just met with the Math Counselor at school who has written many books on how to be successful in Math. He confirmed that yes, there is a math ld and yes, most likely I have it. They are going to work with me on how to be successful. I only have two classes to take to graduate and I thought I was going to have to throw in the towel on my lifelong dream of getting a college degree. Best to all of you, I feel your pain!

Posted: 22 April 2008 20:04:58

hi im peter i am 52 years old and since i was little i have had a huge problem with maths i cannot hold figures in my head and at best i can do some basic maths with a struggle but cannot do mental arithmatic. my time at school was a nightmare two of my maths teachers at secondary school treated me so badly and made me feel so inadequate that i have a total hatred for the subject. because of those teachers i hate maths with a vengence and i hate them for destroying my life when i needed help all i got was riddicule.I am so tired of feeling helpless when it comes to maths I am actually sat here with tears rolling down my face as i type this. My biggest passion in life is science and Astronomy. I wanted to do it for a living but because of my maths problems i cant,I am NOT stupid as those so called teachers made me feel and believe i was I have even studied and Passed Science courses with the Open University I just need somebody to help me overcome my maths problems I will not be beaten by this I will Not let those Teachers win

Posted: 26 April 2008 10:20:02

I find it interesting that Nick - above says he loves math but can't grasp it. I don't nessecarily dislike it either because I like anything that's a challenge. My problem is that I have a memory lapse and can't remember the steps to certain concepts like solving equasions. I spent countless hours during the last two weeks studying for a test in pre-algebra that was entirely problems that solve. I think I spent about twelve hours the past week in the college's tutoring center and I even managed to complete all of my homework, even though it took me forever, and I practiced the different problems, over and over, and then they clicked with me and I thought I finally unerstood how to do them when I did the work on the practice sheet and started getting the answers all right, until the next day, when I took the test and couldn't remember what to do. I simply could not remember the steps. It's like I have to repeatedly learn it all over again, like I have never seen it before. It's horrifying! Here's the crazy part, I am in an honors English class and I receive all A's on my written requirements in English and History. I am artistic and can play an instrument just by listening, I know what musical notes are - b, c, by looking at them but my brain doesn't process them fast enough to keep up with them to play by ear. It's the same thing with typing. I am just so so at typing but I can never pick my speed up; therefore I don't seem to have the hand eye coordination to improve. I get mixed up with numbers, if I am not careful, a 9 can become a 3 or a 6. If I get used to solving a simple equation one way and placement of the = sign changes fron left to right it feels awkward to solve it - this one is a hard one to explain.
Not only did I forget the steps, I didn't have enough time because it takes me so long to process the information with numbers, so I didn't even get to finish the test. I think there was seven problems I didn't have time to do. Now I can't even sit for the final in my pre-alg class because I failed the last test. I got an A on the first one and I had a C so I was really trying and strugglng, but now I have to repeat pre-alg in the fall, and I have to go all the way up to college algebra for a degree in secondary English ed along with a second major in History. My passion is writing. I have no trouble with essays and I can complete them in no time. Even surprise, in class essays. My friends are amazed with my writing ability and even a little jealous;)(in a good way)that it comes so easy for me, but I tell them not to be because my math issues really haunt me. I am a returning student in my thirties and my time is running out to reach my goals and follow my dreams. I am ready for a career change that I can actually look forward to, but I have this one big obstacle......Math!

Posted: 26 April 2008 20:58:18

Ha! I noticed that I spelled neccesarily wrong after I proof-read my comment. That's a processing problem, lol. I just wanted to add that a couple of weeks ago, my professor told me that it sounded like I was over-studying, but last week she spoke to me after class and asked if I have ever been tested for a learning disability. Thank God she is a good teacher who is understanding. I only have one problem now, I can't afford the test. They need to make it more affordable because it would be a shame to throw away your future over a stinkin' expensive test. There are different degrees of the disability. I can add and subtract in my head and on paper with little problem, in fact, the strange thing is that I choose to do math on paper instead of the calculator, maybe because my struggle with it is intriguing to me and once again it's the challenge of it. I have no trouble multiplying and dividing either. I even have little trouble with fractions, except the fact that if I am not careful, I reverse the numbers from top to bottom. The polynomials, monomials and solving equations is what gets me because I understand them when it's on the board, but then I struggle with the homework anyway and it takes way too long for me to do it, about 4 to 5 hours a day.....yeah, and I do have other subjects to study, which I happen to get A's in those classes,and I have to neglect my other studies because I have no time to study for my other classes because of being consumed by MATH! I'll have to attempt to take pre-alg again in the fall un-tested because of the expense; however, at least my professor and the tutors are aware that there is a problem and that I really am trying. A good teacher can tell if a learning disability is highly likely whether you have the proof or not. She caught me writng a 3 two times in a row while she was helping me with a problem, even though I knew it was a 9. She knew that I knew better, for some reason I just kept writing a 3!

Posted: 26 April 2008 21:55:40

I strongly recommend visiting http://www.emofree.com/articles.aspx?id=11 for a possible solution. Keep an open mind and try it out. If it doesn't work, no harm done!
All the Best!

Posted: 29 April 2008 07:43:32

I have read alot around this subject recently. I cannot believe I have not come across it before.
I believe I am a text book case of a mild Dyscalculic, I have not yet been formally tested, I have been tested for Dyslexia and I did not show up as Dyslexic, however my working memory did identify very interesting findings.
I am studying for a post grad (not maths related)at present but all through my life I have had difficulties with maths that would almost literally send me into a mild panic attack. However this is not just maths related. I absolutely loved ballet and I studied this full time, I was very lucky in that I was able to achieve most ballet positions with realitive ease due to flexibility. At the start of the dance year it was noted that I had difficulty sequencing steps but the general thought was as I had not been practicing full time previously and now I was, I would eventually through practice pick steps up quicker- but that wasnt the case - a year later I could still not remember a combination or sequence despite having run through it a number of times, it simply just did not absorb, the grand allegros especially were challenging. This frustrated my teachers no end, it really upset me because dancing was an area I was so passionate about but a simple thing such as remembering steps just did not come to me at all and obviously you must be able to pick up steps and retain them in order to get work as a dancer.At one point we were practicing a Ballet and I completely blanked at the steps- on stage and felt ridiculous, my teacher asked me if I was stupid and why despite all the time rehersing could I not recall the steps? I argued back do you think its easy having a mind that doesnt remember sequences? and I continued to inform her despite the practice my mind was just not retaining the information. I eventually left dancing as it was battering my confidence and baffling both myself and all the dance teachers. I am now studying a completely different area and I am very happy.
Other areas that I believe Dyscalculia affects my life are- 1)frequent cases of getting lost/lack of direction
2)Losing things, in all I have never been able to remember things even as a child, I used to contantly lose school books, as I am older I have replaced Birthcerts passports bank cards driving licences, keys, mobile phone, degree certificates, everything I own needs to be constantly backed up because it is contantly getting lost. Today I am just back from the bank as I left my wallet up on the car and drove off with it on the roof subsequently losing it and all the contents of bank cards etc this is a regular occurance in my life.
3)sequencing for horse jumping - I used to continually get frustrated at myself as I could not recall sequences for jumps and commonly direct the horse over the wrong jump.
4)sequencing for learning to drive- I sat my driving test 3 times and eventually passed, it took me a long time on a manual car to get the squence of the clutch gears and brake.
5)I commonly get names of my family mixed up and then correct myself.
6) The list could truely go on, my friends are lovely and understanding and just see this as being scatty but now I know it isnt scattyness I am hoping to get assessed for dyscalulia and I was just in the learning support centre to set up an appointment so hopefully the outcome will be informative.What is interesting to note is that my aunt also appears to have the same characterists of being 'scatty' therefore I am interested to find out the genetic link also.
If anyone has had similar experiences with dyscalculia not just maths related I would be very interested to read them also.

Posted: 13 May 2008 15:37:50

Wow all of your responses hit home. I have just finished a post-baccalaureate pre-med program and was diagnosed with dyscalculia this year. After mis-diagnoses I was finally given a correct one but also told that noone knew how to help me. I would love to attend medical school and I'm trying to learn as much about this condition as I can. Does anyone know of any physicians or scientists with dyscalculia? Has anyone found resources to help with upper level science and math courses?

Posted: 20 May 2008 19:31:21

Einstein had dyscalculia and was also dyslexic. Hope that's of some help and encouragement.

Posted: 06 June 2008 22:01:23

I am a 35 year old College student in the US, and can relate to almost every comment above in one way or another. As a student I excelled in every area...except Math! I have always liked Math, but could not understand why my brain didn't calculate it the way that others did. Everyone in my family has occupations in Medicine, Science, and Physics and did not suffer as I did with Math. Like many of you, I too had to change my major to one that did not involve higher Mathematical concepts. The sad thing is that if you do not comprehend Math, many educators have branded you as someone who simply "doesn't like Math" or has "Math Anxiety". In my case both are incorrect. Perhaps that is why schools and universities do not realize that those of us that suffer from Dyscalculia have not avoided Math because we don't like it, but because it is taught in a way that we don't comprehend. Tutoring is another issue. Any college that I have attended has offered me tutoring by someone who perhaps excels in Math, but is NOT trained to tutor someone who has Dyscalculia. That would be similar to a tutor working with someone who has Dyslexia with reading or English because they excel at it. It does not make sense, does it? I can only hope that educators and parents become more familiar with Dyscalculia and hopefully this will allow many others to be able to obtain the right tutoring & assistance so that they can excel in their life goals & career opportunities.

Posted: 07 June 2008 17:20:33

I am another frantically worried mother. My 17 year old daughter failed her math course this year, junior year, just as she is getting herself together to apply to colleges. Sarah has always been a thin, floppy little girl who was born prematurely with her twin who has mild cp. She has been followed all of her life. All of her life no one has been able to say what was "wrong" with her and so she failed at ballet, failed in friendships, and became a college level reader at the age of 9 or 10 following tutoring in wilson reading. She received speech therapy and occupational therapy and at her first psychological evaluation her verbal IQ was 145 and her performance 93. The psychologist said sadly, hers would always be an invisible learning disability. It has been so. I have gotten her a range of services in school, but ultimately her intelligence has driven her to excel in a program called the International Baccalaureate program which has a demanding curriculum based on critical reasoning skills not rote recall. But she failed their lowest level of math. The school does not consider her to have a disability and said since she did not need to be in IB they did not need to provide her with support services. SO SHE FAILED THE MATH. Now here it is fast approaching...senior year. Sarah had math tutors all last year but a teacher who would not accommodate her requests to have things written out or repeated. Sarah has just been evaluated at Bryn Mawr College's Child Study Institute. I read some of the literature and Sarah's early and continued fine motor needs look to be directly connected to the math problem. Is there some program I can give to Sarah to help her help herself? I looked up Singapore Math. Are those good for her? Then I read the articles here, are Math Flash and Pirate Math available? Too immature for her? I believe we will be getting accommodations for Sarah this year with the help of the psychologist and a little review of the records. But now she has to pass and fast in order to demonstrate to the colleges that she takes steps needed to tackle problems, etc., etc.

Posted: 05 July 2008 22:06:07

I live in the UK so I don't know how the education system works in other countries. I have been told by one or two experts that my son will never be able to get a good grade in maths GCSE. Other experts have said that he can learn some life skills by being taught numbers, adding up and taking away using concrete methods. This obviously would not take him to a high level of mathematics or a good grade but may give him some competence when he has to live alone. The problem with this type of teaching is that in the UK it is aimed at under 14s so he wasn't willing to go through the embarrassment of learning in this way.
I don't think there has been enough research to help over 16s and adults who are dyscalculic but as I have written previously, Prof. Brian Butterworth and others are taking an active role in finding out more about this ld. More teachers are becoming aware of dyscalculia in the UK but unfortunately it is still very much an unknown territory and is where dyslexia was 20 or 30 years ago. What I do know is that it can never be cured and is something that a person has to live with for the rest of their life.
I think certain strategies can be taught but it is more to do with the comprehension of numbers rather than being competent at maths. Aids can be used but are very much tailored to the individuals needs and can't be used per se.
My son has been advised by the educational pyschologist to avoid any subject or job that entails numbers and maths and this obviously limits his choice of career.
I know that at times it feels like you're banging your head against a brick wall in the education system but there is not a great deal of help out there at the moment, I don't think.

Posted: 11 July 2008 19:00:43

I am 20 years old. I swung through high school with good grades in math. The thing is. If you want me to make change it will take me forever. If you ask me what time is it I can't tell you unless I have a digital watch on or near me. It is hard for me. I have a hard time with my checkbook and hardly ever use it. I just keep checking online and see how much money I have in the bank. I've tutors in math all my educational career. My friend has this same condition and she told me to look it up online. She said I might have what she has.

Posted: 10 August 2008 03:29:47

I have a feeling i might have dyscalculia. I'm in the top set for maths which probably sounds a bit odd but when I talked to my maths teacher she said that it can happen. I've aways had a lack of confidence in maths and my friends always seem to grasp methods and remember them a lot better than I can. I also find numbers over 3 digits hard to read and counting change usually results in my friend checking it. I would like to be tested but I'm not sure where and I know its expensive. I might not have it, I dont know, but if I did I would at least have a reason as to why I find maths difficult and to be quite honest- scary. If anyone has any advice I would be really grateful.

Posted: 31 August 2008 21:56:25

I can only advise you on what the procedure is in Britain. If you are British and under 16 you can get tested through the school. I'm not sure if you will need parental/guardian permission you would have to find out about that. Failing that get in touch with your Local Education Authority - you will find the number in your phone book who will advise you either if your under or over 16. If you are in 6th form you may or may not get tested through them. My sons 6th form weren't remotely interested so I had to have him tested privately.
If you can't go through the above routes you could get in touch with Dyslexia Action formerly called Dyslexia Institute. They do charge but you could have a Maths Assessment done by their teachers and this may cost around £80. It will show up any general difficulties in maths.
They may or may not advise you to have a full psychological assessment by their educational psychologist. Last year it cost me £320 to have my son tested. It also includes dyslexia sensitive tests in it. They will then speak to you about the results and give you some advice on what to do next. My son found this very helpful as it showed up that he has mild non-verbal ld and is dyscalculic. This has resulted in him having extra time in exams which been a little less stressful for him. He also received support in college from his teachers.
I don't know the procedures for any other country but if you are British I hope this is of some use to you and is the information that you were looking for.

Posted: 04 September 2008 17:06:36

Thankyou for your advice, I'm 15 and I am British. When I spoke to the school they were a bit vague but my parents are going to try and talk to them. I hope I can get it sorted soon- before I take many more maths exams anyway. Thanks again.

Posted: 20 September 2008 19:21:39

I am 22 and have suffered with dyscalculia for years,
My teachers at school always used to say i was lazy and say i was not trying hard enough, but i just couldn't get it.
So don't worry Nick your not alone and your not what the teachers say, you really do sound like you have dyscalculia.
If you go to the head teacher of your school you should be able to ask for a test to determine weather or not you have it and how severe it is, and you can get some class support in this area which does help.
At school i could do some maths but not all especially not my times tables, for some reason i would forget not long after learning them.
I spent years trying to get them but to no avail i am good at calculating money and could not be swindled that way but other things to do with maths are just to difficult.

Posted: 29 September 2008 16:17:18

Yes, I am the small child who was looking at the flag, the bright colors instead of the teacher. I was the child who went from the smart class, to the slow learners because I could not focus. (In the slow class I was too smart, bored.) That was 50 years ago. They have come a long way for the children who suffer with learning disabilities.
I can thank the "label" of "not too smart", because it created an "A" personality.
(Acheive until you kill yourself)
An example of this would be:
If I was invited to someones house that was ten miles away for a party at four ,I made it there at seven PM. (But I made it!)
I went back to school just to see if I could. I have a 3.8 With only a few classes to go for an associate's, all I have to do is pass algebra. I paid two tutors and took the class 4 times. Still to not pass. I studied hours on hours too, some days the information would click, other days it just was one big jummble. (Interesting to note that coffee sometimes seems to make my brain work better. Does anyone else find that?) If I were to do a word problem, forget it. I dont remember my own phone number let alone complex math. And to remember a persons name I met ten times, forget it!
My son suffers with the same thing. Misplacing things, time management, sequencing. I can see it. He lacks drive, some say, he says he gets overwhelmed. He is not an "A" personality.
1)Keys lost, oh they are in my hand.
2)Turn right, no left...on no I meant right.
3)Put a peice ( Did you see I flipped the letter there?) of paper under number to add the list
4)Put things in groups. There are many , many groups around my house to stay organized.
Copy things from one paper to another is possible, anything is possible, just difficult.
My list can go on and on...does this sound familiar?
5) "Oh your so highly strung" they say. "No, no, no," thats my "A" personlity.
Bottom line:
I am going to take the test. All young college students listen to this old grandma, if I can you can. It will be money well invested in your future!

Posted: 13 October 2008 22:38:58