Dyscalculia, how to get a diagnosis?

I don't know how you can get it diagnosed, but I think I have the same problem, have done for a while. I only managed to understand the concept of telling time about a year ago, and only managed a D in my Maths GCSE. I just can't remember how to do anything mathematical, however, like you, I do well in English.

I think it's one of those terms that will have a sudden appearance, and then before you know it, people left, right and center will be "diagnosed" with it. I'm fairly sure a lot of people have it to a certain extent.

OP, I also have dyscalculia, and I had to get assessed by an educational psychologist to have my learning disability confirmed. I think my mum got it done through the Dyslexia Institute - this was a number of years ago though, so I'm slightly hazy on the details. The Institute is now known as Dyslexia Action, and its website is here: http://www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk/

Try contacting them. I'm sure they also carry out assessments for dyscalculia, and it's worth phoning or otherwise reaching them for more information. They have centres across the country. This may or may not cost money - I can always check with my parents if you'd like to know how they went about it. And if you ever need to talk, OP, you can always PM me. I'd be more than happy to chat.

What are you doing now - are you still in education? If so, contact your SEN co-ordinator. If not, your GP I guess...

*edit* Contact your uni, they should be able to recommend a psychologist and pay for your assessment.

Thank you, I'll look into that, the site I got that list from was American so it didn't help much in terms of getting any kind of assessment.

Actually I'm going to Uni in September (funnily enough doing English like you - saw your sig) so I'm wondering if they might be able to assess me for free or something, I know they do for dyslexia at some Unis.

Oh, snap! English is awesome, isn't it?

I just checked out the Disabled Students section of TSR (here), which I think you should definitely check out if you have further questions and feel comfortable revealing your identity. But the suggestions there seem to be that you contact your chosen university and see if they can arrange for an assessment to be carried out. If they do it for dyslexia, I'm sure they'll also do it for dyscalculia.

Thank you. I will have a look at it. I have a meeting with the Uni anyway as I was cared for/fostered and they want to meet with me to find out any of my special needs, so I think I'll talk about it with them then.

English is awesome <3 Doing Eng. Lang here but I did Lit A-level, I love both.

Well to be honest this sounds all to much like these other "diseases" which are in fact just applying a name to something that is natural and trying to make the subject feel better. This http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1847619.ece article for example clearly shows that it is just another means of gaining an unfair advantage over other children during the exam period. Please, take the honourable approach.

Well to be honest this sounds all to much like these other "diseases" which are in fact just applying a name to something that is natural and trying to make the subject feel better. This http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1847619.ece article for example clearly shows that it is just another means of gaining an unfair advantage over other children during the exam period. Please, take the honourable approach.

Oh no, I'm sorry, was I not PC enough for you with your "SpLDs"?

Oh no, I'm sorry, was I not PC enough for you with your "SpLDs"?

Look, it's simple; prove there is a physical difference, be it with the brain or elsewhere.

Oh no, I'm sorry, was I not PC enough for you with your "SpLDs"?

Look, it's simple; prove there is a physical difference, be it with the brain or elsewhere.

Oh no, I'm sorry, was I not PC enough for you with your "SpLDs"?

Look, it's simple; prove there is a physical difference, be it with the brain or elsewhere.

I think severely compromised spatial awareness and numerical difficulties constitutes a tangible medical issue. Y'know, it's actually possible for certified psychologists to distinguish between lazy, manipulative gits and people with genuine medical problems. Unfortunately, bitterness is not a medical problem...

The uni is as good a bet as any OP. Some of the best medical care a mate of mine received was as a result of his university's involvement.

My Mum's cousin has this - she can't recognise or understand how simple things like 9 + 9 equal 18, the numbers and symbols just make no sense to her. Hers is really severe though, it's prevented her from getting a few jobs she was after. She does live in Switzerland though so i'm guessing it's different over there. But at least you got your C GCSE, well done OP =) You can see a psychologist though and they can diagnose it properly.

Hey there,

I've been recently reading about a condition called 'dyscalculia' which basically the same as dyslexia except with mathematics/spatial awareness. I've been saying I have 'number dyslexia' for years until I discovered it actually existed, and after reading various lists of symptoms (including this one: http://www.dyscalculia.org/calc.html) it describes me scarily accurately. I was constantly getting E's and even U's in every mock GCSE maths exam, the only way I managed to get a C was by working nonstop every night as if I left it for more than a day I would just automatically forget something. I worked harder than my maths GCSE than I did for any of my A-levels. However I got A's and A*s in Science/English which it says on there can be strong points for dyscalculics - plus my memory for written words is very good, far beyond average. Also, back in the day of when I did P.E. I got 1/10 for my final grade, and I can't do any kind of sports properly due to such horrible co-ordination. I can't even play those games on the dance mat on easy mode because it's so bad.

It's been affecting me quite badly throughout my life, obviously in some areas more than others. I had to give up learning to drive because I found it so difficult due to the lack of spatial awareness, and my instructor outright asked me whether I had a learning disability and that I'm the hardest student he'd ever had to teach.

Just wondering if anyone shares the same problem, and can tell me where I can go to get some kind of official diagnosis, pretty much for my peace of mind so I can stop putting it down to me being 'stupid'. I don't know if it's covered by GPs as it's not really endangering my health in any way.