Dyscalculia? Anyone have any experience of it?

[pearlieking1977]

Hi All,


I think I may suffer from Dyscalculia? I am very articulate with the the written word, reading and English language.... Mathematics elude me. My brother is profoundly dyslexic however, he does brilliantly with Maths.


I seem to have the opposite issue to him? I made a mistake when inputting some numbers on an invoice and try as I might, check and double check- I transpose numbers occasionally and I have no understanding of mathematical concepts at all, my brain just will not take it in. It's embarrassing to admit, because my brother was diagnosed very early in life and I was sort of left to flounder with Maths. I'm 42 and should be better at Maths, any helpful suggestions? I've tried learning Maths and functional skills but I need help to understand it. My ex husband always made fun of my poor Maths and budgeting skills and this did little to make me want to be honest about my difficulties, I get in trouble at work for lack of accuracy inputting- but I do try really hard to get everything perfect.

Sorry, just needed to have a bit of a chunter Xx

[tommytrot]

Had to Google Dyscalculia 😊 i’m useless at Maths and mental arithmetic can’t spell v well either, it makes me so made when people get have a go at me for not being able to quickly conjuror up a number 😠. But I have for many years worked successfully in accounts, go figure! 

I think it has something to do with stress, being put on the spot does not help but as with dyslexia some where they will be a work around, keep plugging on ! 

[pearlieking1977]

Same with me? I do an accounts job (which I'm largely very good at!) and I can't do the mental arithmetic either? I think you're right- I do get stressed and then I get 'brain freeze'.

I'm not trying to label myself particularly - I just want some sort of answer? I know I'm not at all stupid, but sometimes other people make you feel that way, don't they?

I wonder why our brains can do the accounting stuff, but not actual Maths lol....

Thank you TT, you made me feel better Xx

[kas]

I'd never heard of that! I kind of freeze when it's to do with numbers or sums. I remember doing tests once for a job application in an internal restructuring. Multiple choice answers for the "sums". I was trying to work every single one out, but afterwards one of my friends said that he could just see which of the answers couldn't be right on many of the questions.

[pearlieking1977]

That's what I mean? Isn't it strange? I'm much more of a visual learner too? I wonder if that's why we get on better with animals a lot of the time? Because we can read body language and it's there in front of us. But, I too panic that I'm getting it wrong and can't trust myself to reach the correct answer with Maths?

[snigsby]

I think there is a difference between arithmetic (which is juggling with numbers) and maths, which is algebra/geometry etc. Algebra and geometry make sense to me (geometry more than algebra) but numbers are a mystery.

I have O levels (remember them? lol) in Maths and Arithmetic and also Higher Maths (similar to A level,only Scottish).

But I believe I am discalculic. Numbers are meaningless to me and I really suffer from this. Strange but true!! I am perfectly capable of writing 2 x 2 = 6 and not seeing anything wrong with that. I don't seem able to "see" the shape or meaning of numbers in my mind.

My dad was a maths teacher and he used to tear his hair out with me when he checked my homework. He would say "but if you look at the question,Rosemary, the answer cannot be more than such-and-such" ( mentioned by someone else above).

Hard to explain, but true and I know what you mean,pearlieking

[pearlieking1977]

You've hit the nail on the head there Snigs, I cannot for the life of me recognise numbers/meaning/form etc - I can do the basics... but seriously struggle with any kind of workings out in my head?

I never could, I used to dread maths class - because I hated when you were asked to shout out answers at random. Always, shrunk down in my seat and pretended I hadn't heard the question. Yet? Science - I absolutely loved Biology, Chemistry and even Physics.

Kas, I applied for a job last year and the Maths section was absolutely beyond me. The questions were degree level for a a basic administration job - it was horrific. I came out of there realising that I was no way getting that job all due to my lack of Maths understanding.

Crazy, but it's good to know I'm not alone Xx