I can't read numbers!

I have a real problem with reading and writing numbers. I know it sounds bizzare, but when I see a number, although I know what it is, what the answer is when I double it etc, I find it impossible to say it or copy it out without covering up the digits and looking at them one by one.

Also, if someone says a number, like this morning when the invigilator in my exam asked 'Has everyone got paper 8031?', I have to really think about the sound of the number they've said before I can work out what it is. I often turn to the wrong page in textbooks etc - again not exactly not a major issue, but irritating nonetheless.

What's annoying is that I'm a mathematician, and I love number theory etc, but it takes forever to copy questions from the textbook and stuff.

Does anyone else get this?

Reply 1

Golden Maverick

4

Madprof

I have a real problem with reading and writing numbers. I know it sounds bizzare, but when I see a number, although I know what it is, what the answer is when I double it etc, I find it impossible to say it or copy it out without covering up the digits and looking at them one by one.

Does anyone else get this?

That's really quite odd. Do you have any similar problems with words?

When you cover the digits up and look at them one by one, how do you read it? Do you say the number to yourself or what?

Reply 2

Mr_Pedantic

9

Have you been tested for Dyslexia?

Reply 3

xxSpicyChickenxx

9

my brother has the same sort of problem.. but with words.. maybee you should be tested, for dyslexia. its worth a shot and at least you'll understand more about it all...

Reply 4

Elles

17

Mr_Pedantic

Have you been tested for Dyslexia?

or perhaps more specifically dyscalculia if it's only numbers specifically & not letters too that cause problems..? :smile:

Reply 5

Madprof

OP

12

Golden Maverick

That's really quite odd. Do you have any similar problems with words?

When you cover the digits up and look at them one by one, how do you read it? Do you say the number to yourself or what?

No, I don't have any problem at all with words, just numbers. It's like the numbers are seperate from their 'names' or what they look like and it takes a while to link them together. When I read numbers, I say each digit to myself and that makes it so much easier.

I might be dyscalculic? Thanks Elles! Hmm, will go look that up. Thought it was just me being slow...

Reply 6

Butterfly

1

Madprof

No, I don't have any problem at all with words, just numbers. It's like the numbers are seperate from their 'names' or what they look like and it takes a while to link them together. When I read numbers, I say each digit to myself and that makes it so much easier.

I might be dyscalculic? Thanks Elles! Hmm, will go look that up. Thought it was just me being slow...

I think you'll be entitled to extra time in your exams which will be very valuable, especially considering the subjects you're doing.

Reply 7

Shelbycakes

i tend to look at the numbers to copy them out and they end up all muddled up on my paper! i am slightly dyslexic but only with words! it gets really frustrating becuase i can loose all the marks for a question becuase i've copied something out wrongly!

Reply 8

emilie87

Oh my god! I have the exact same problem! My friends joke about it and call it my 'numerical deficiency' but it's actually quite bad- I have problems copying down phone numbers or any long numbers from one thing to another. I also work in a bookshop so copying ISBNs is SO annoying. On the other hand, I speak three languages and can remember song lyrics and names really easily. Weird, huh?

Reply 9

Shelbycakes

emilie87

Oh my god! I have the exact same problem! My friends joke about it and call it my 'numerical deficiency' but it's actually quite bad- I have problems copying down phone numbers or any long numbers from one thing to another. I also work in a bookshop so copying ISBNs is SO annoying. On the other hand, I speak three languages and can remember song lyrics and names really easily. Weird, huh?

its like our brains just wizz the numbers around into a different order for fun!
i swear its going to loose me marks in my maths a-level

Reply 10

Madprof

OP

12

Shelbycakes

its like our brains just wizz the numbers around into a different order for fun!

That's exactly what it feels like! Like there's a gremlin or something switching numbers around without me noticing.

Reply 11

Elles

17

do you have visual problems looking at the numbers - like they physically seem to blur / switch round / superimpose / move in & out of the plane of paper? & is it worse when copying down i.e. from a board or other texts etc? do you get headaches/eye strain or anything..?

or is it more just correlating the visual form with the oral form of the number? i.e. when someone says a number you really have to think to write it down.. & you have problems repeating sequences outloud?

(sorry to sound so nosy & intrusive.. :redface:

but i've been doing quite a bit of reading on this recently for my degree & am interested in the different theories for causes of dyslaxia/dyscalculia :p:

)

Reply 12

Madprof

OP

12

Elles - The second thing you said sounds more right. It's a bit like oral/visual forms of numbers are in different languages and I have to really concentrate to work out which numbers are being said. When reading numbers with lots of digits I think my brain gets confuddled about their order, although it's not like the numbers physically seem to jump about at all.

Yeah, I struggle repeating sequences out loud - like times tables - as although I know the numbers, the words I need don't seem to be in any kind of order, if that makes any sense :rolleyes:

.

Don't worry, you're not being nosey! What degree are you doing btw?

Reply 13

Elles

17

hmm - probably of a phonological/auditory basis then i would imagine. would definitely be worth trying to get yourself referred & assessed though*.. i imagine extra time in exams, given the subjects you're doing could be quite handy! & there are all sorts of other techniques that may or may not be useful for you..

*talking to a teacher / special educational needs advisor in your school/6th form would be a good start - there are basic screening tests, although i imagine these may be slightly biased to letter rather than number difficulties. but hopefully they could get an educational psychologist assess you (free of charge through your LEA - but may be veery slow!).

http://www.beingdyslexic.co.uk/documents/proof_of_dyslexia.php

may be useful, then that website in general.

Don't worry, you're not being nosey! What degree are you doing btw?

thanks..

& I'm studying medicine.
but i'm just going into my 3rd year - so starting a neuroscience intercalated degree. & a research project on the visual basis of dyslexia.. although as you went for option 2, i don't think it would be of much use to you, unfortunately! :p:

Reply 14

SciFi25

1

Madprof

I have a real problem with reading and writing numbers. I know it sounds bizzare, but when I see a number, although I know what it is, what the answer is when I double it etc, I find it impossible to say it or copy it out without covering up the digits and looking at them one by one.

Also, if someone says a number, like this morning when the invigilator in my exam asked 'Has everyone got paper 8031?', I have to really think about the sound of the number they've said before I can work out what it is. I often turn to the wrong page in textbooks etc - again not exactly not a major issue, but irritating nonetheless.

What's annoying is that I'm a mathematician, and I love number theory etc, but it takes forever to copy questions from the textbook and stuff.

Does anyone else get this?

Ever heard of dyscalculia?? You might have that. Only a suggestion. I have a mild case and as a consequence just cannot learn times tables or do anything more complicated than simple mathematics.

Reply 15

Madprof

OP

12

lessthanthree

do you have maths a level this year?

Yes, I do - well, five modules in total this year. Stats this morning wasn't nice!

I can't read numbers!

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