The Student Room Group

Dyscalculia - The Math dyslexia

Hi, I'm new :biggrin:

Came here to see if there were any interesting dyscalculia discussions. I can't believe that a search for "dyscalculia", in a place like this, was pointless. Wow. This really IS an unknown disability. I bet a lot of you have this problem, so... I guess I'll start out.

Dyscalculia is the "math dyslexia". It's approved by the WHO (Specific disorder of arithmetical skills - F81.2) and the DSM-IV (mathematics disorder). Most studies show that between 3.6 and 6.5 of the population in the states, Sweden and UK have this disability (Butterworth, Lewis, Hitch, Walker, Gross-Tur, Manor & Shalev). Millions of people, all around the world.

But it's an unknown disability. Most colleges don't know how to help. Little research exists. No technical aids exist.

Dyscalculia is, of course, trouble with Maths. But it's more than that. Trouble with direction, with clocks, left/right, grammar rules... There are many forms and degrees of dyscalculia. Common symptoms;

Normal or accelerated language acquisition: verbal, reading, writing. Poetic ability. Good visual memory for the printed word. Good in the areas of science (until a level requiring higher math skills is reached), geometry (figures with logic not formulas), and creative arts.


Difficulty with the abstract concepts of time and direction. Inability to recall schedules, and sequences of past or future events. Unable to keep track of time. May be chronically late.


Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name/face retrieval. Substitute names beginning with same letter.


Inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Poor mental math ability. Poor with money and credit. Cannot do financial planning or budgeting. Checkbooks not balanced. Short term, not long term financial thinking. Fails to see big financial picture. May have fear of money and cash transactions. May be unable to mentally figure change due back, the amounts to pay for tips, taxes, etc


When writing, reading and recalling numbers, these common mistakes are made: number additions, substitutions, transpositions, omissions, and reversals.


Inability to grasp and remember math concepts, rules, formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts. Poor long term memory (retention & retrieval) of concept mastery- may be able to perform math operations one day, but draw a blank the next! May be able to do book work but fails all tests and quizzes.


May be unable to comprehend or "picture" mechanical processes. Lack "big picture/ whole picture" thinking. Poor ability to "visualize or picture" the location of the numbers on the face of a clock, the geographical locations of states, countries, oceans, streets, etc.


Poor memory for the "layout" of things. Gets lost or disoriented easily. May have a poor sense of direction, loose things often, and seem absent minded. (Remember the absent minded professor?)


May have difficulty grasping concepts of formal music education. Difficulty sight-reading music, learning fingering to play an instrument, etc.


May have poor athletic coordination, difficulty keeping up with rapidly changing physical directions like in aerobic, dance, and exercise classes. Difficulty remembering dance step sequences, rules for playing sports.


Difficulty keeping score during games, or difficulty remembering how to keep score in games, like bowling, etc. Often looses track of whose turn it is during games, like cards and board games. Limited strategic planning ability for games, like chess.



In general, if you are able to learn maths one day and forget all about it the next - and it continues that way - something is wrong.

Many are afraid of labels like dyscalculia and dyslexia. But I've been working with this for 2 years, and I have never met a dyscalculic who wasn't absolutely grateful to finally understand why he/she couldn't understand simple things like a clock. I'm dyscalculic too. Of course, in a perfect world, there would be no need for a label, but the world isn’t perfect. Some people need labels to get the help they need to succeed, like everyone else.
Yeah, I asked about this quite recently.... with maths I quite frequently can't even copy the question down correctly. Also, although I'm saying it in my head, when I write it down at the same time I can even end up writing the wrong thing.
I have quite a few of those symptoms and math has never been my strongest subject so who knows..maybe I have dyscalculia..
Reply 3
I'm not good with langauges, I must have dyslinguia.
Reply 4
That sounds just like me. But then again I could just be crap at maths. I'm generally useless at logistical thinking... poo to sudoku and chess.
I do actually have dyscalcuia - was it detected when I was in primary school :frown:
:confused:
Hey,
Interesting stuff, but the list matches alot of (actually most) of symptoms of dyslexia proper, at least those that I have, which seemed to be all of them lol.
I have always been poor at maths more than most subjects, but have general all round issues. I must say this condition has never been mentioned to me, only dyslexia and dyspraxia, so very interesting!
Luckily awareness and recognition is growing, but from your post I can see more is yet to be done! BTW I was only diagnosed fully last year, at the age of 24! lots still getting through the net!

Love Jess xxx
Sounds like me :frown:
Reply 8
sounds like me :frown: Does that mean I cant go to university? (I fail to meet basic maths requirments..)