By Sabrina Hunt: For More Info, Go Here…
A friend makes a post on Facebook about dyscalculia, a term I have never heard before… but I see the words “learning disability related to math and numbers,” and my interest is piqued.
The list of symptoms sounds eerily familiar.
Inability to grasp and remember math concepts, rules, formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic math facts (+-x/).
Check.
Poor memory (retention & retrieval) of math concepts- may be able to perform math operations one day, but draw a blank the next! May be able to do book work but then fails tests.
Absolutely.
Experiences anxiety during math tasks.
Hahahahahahaha.
Uses fingers to count. Loses track when counting. Cannot do mental math. Adds with dots or tally marks.
I often use the number of angles or curves in the physical representation of the number and count them that way.
Inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Bad at financial planning and money management. Too slow at mental math to figure totals, change due, tip, tax.
I feel called out by this list of symptoms, honestly.
Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name-face association.*
Wait, that’s related to a math disability?
I decide to talk to my therapist about the possibility of being assessed.
The moment when one realizes not everyone understands certain concepts to the same degree is an odd moment — when you become the one who can’t understand something everyone else does, it’s devastating.
Learning it isn’t your fault, that you’re not actually stupid, is a relief in some ways, but traumatic in others. I keep thinking about what would have happened if I’d been diagnosed as a kid, if the school had been able to accommodate me to the degree I needed, if I had been given the tools I needed to understand and succeed rather than just being pushed along with barely passing grades because at least I passed.
How would my life be different right now?
Dyscalculia is real. If you or anyone you know nearly has a panic attack when thinking about math or trying to perform math, I recommend looking into this learning disability.
It’s worth it to know that you’re not lazy and you’re not stupid.
