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I keep trying to explain to people a rare learning disability, in which I somehow got entitled Dyscalculia (pronounce dis-cal-KYOOL-ee-ah) or math dyslexia. I try to explain, because I'm hoping that it will help others who also have it.
Dyscalculia is a math learning disorder (sometimes called math dyslexia, though that’s a misleading name). Unlike dyslexia, it’s not nearly as recognized or understood, and people who have it may struggle for years or their entire lives without getting the assistance they need. In much the same way people with dyslexia simply don’t see letters and words in the same way as folks without, those with dyscalculia have trouble with “number sense.”
For them, the concept of “7 = seven” is confusing. They have difficulties putting numbers in order or understanding the idea of “greater than or less than” (made even worse when shorthand symbols like “>” or “<” come into play). Memorization isn’t just a matter of time and practice for them—it may be nearly impossible.
What Teachers Need to Know About Math Dyscalculia
How this came up?
Mother's cousin, a former software engineer, posted the below joke on New Math. He loved New Math, thought it was cool and I didn't realize that when he posted. So I stupidly responded on how that resulted in my brother and I teaching ourselves math, and my math phobia. To which he basically humiliated me for letting fear get in the way. And another uncle, mother's side, engineer did the same.
So I hunted down information on math dyslexia and shared it.
It's the reason I struggle to figure out tips or counting up checks in restaurants.
And it's why I can't do math in my head. If you give me a formula like 23 +15, I have to use a calculator. And I can't knit or crochet well -- I've tried, I'm always off. Also doing exercises that require counting are impossible. I skip numbers.
You may have noticed this in posts, where I'll often skip over a number without realizing it.
It's how I think. I was born this way. And I've been bullied, made fun of, and humiliated at various points during my childhood and up through college. My job is stressful and anxiety inducing in part because of this. I do a lot of math in my job. And I've found work-a-rounds. Often I'll ask colleagues for help.
Dyscalculia is a math learning disorder (sometimes called math dyslexia, though that’s a misleading name). Unlike dyslexia, it’s not nearly as recognized or understood, and people who have it may struggle for years or their entire lives without getting the assistance they need. In much the same way people with dyslexia simply don’t see letters and words in the same way as folks without, those with dyscalculia have trouble with “number sense.”
For them, the concept of “7 = seven” is confusing. They have difficulties putting numbers in order or understanding the idea of “greater than or less than” (made even worse when shorthand symbols like “>” or “<” come into play). Memorization isn’t just a matter of time and practice for them—it may be nearly impossible.
What Teachers Need to Know About Math Dyscalculia
How this came up?
Mother's cousin, a former software engineer, posted the below joke on New Math. He loved New Math, thought it was cool and I didn't realize that when he posted. So I stupidly responded on how that resulted in my brother and I teaching ourselves math, and my math phobia. To which he basically humiliated me for letting fear get in the way. And another uncle, mother's side, engineer did the same.
So I hunted down information on math dyslexia and shared it.
It's the reason I struggle to figure out tips or counting up checks in restaurants.
And it's why I can't do math in my head. If you give me a formula like 23 +15, I have to use a calculator. And I can't knit or crochet well -- I've tried, I'm always off. Also doing exercises that require counting are impossible. I skip numbers.
You may have noticed this in posts, where I'll often skip over a number without realizing it.
It's how I think. I was born this way. And I've been bullied, made fun of, and humiliated at various points during my childhood and up through college. My job is stressful and anxiety inducing in part because of this. I do a lot of math in my job. And I've found work-a-rounds. Often I'll ask colleagues for help.
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People need to get over themselves in thinking these things don't exist.
I can't keep a beat, and I can't count and exercise at the same time (which makes my boxing coach laugh), but he knows that it's not because I'm stupid. There's just something about my brain and exercise where the math goes right out the window.
So I have a teeeeny tiiiiiny window into what happens to you.
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I can't keep a beat, and I can't count and exercise at the same time (which makes my boxing coach laugh), but he knows that it's not because I'm stupid. There's just something about my brain and exercise where the math goes right out the window.
Me too. I can't dance well for this reason, or clap, or snap in rhythm or sing or play music well -- I'm off. And I can't count and exercise at the same time either -- which makes physical therapy exercises difficult, but yoga isn't a problem for the most part. (I just ignore the counting.)
There's ways around it, which I've found. Counting on fingers. Using excel and calculator. Writing it down. And finding others who can help.
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Thanks. Yep. When I posted this on FB, I had yet another idiotic uncle (this one on my mother's side) go on about how I must have got a bad gene, because all the other relatives were fine. (My aunt D wisely avoided responding as did my mother, who probably didn't see it -- because they both have it.) But I told him there was no evidence of it being linked genetically. And then, that yes, people are dealing with it -- new teaching methods. He may have great math skills, but his reading comprehension needs work. ;-)
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I don't know. They acted like it was fake news or something. And felt the need to regale me with how many of our family members are engineers and great mathematicians, and how great this is. There's a reason I don't do much on FB -- pesky family members. Everyone else - college friends and online friends, totally got it. But the ones who got it, were also female not male. Making me wonder if it's part of toxic male? God knows. (shrugs).