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hello im new...here is my story
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| atsguy |
Posted on January 23 2006 04:34 AM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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Hello my name is Ned and i am 16 years old,
First off i just want to say that thank you to anyone who has made this site, i finally feel like i can tell people about how hard it is to do simple things.
Let me just start from the beginning .my family moved her because of the war in Bosnia. I actually though that since i was only a child of either 2 or 3 during the war i never really experienced a childhood of learning for you see i was stuck in Croatia for a couple years with my grandma. Up until a few weeks ago i thought that was the problem, because we all know that when a child is at the years of 2 or 3, that is when the learning process begins and a child is most sensitive during those times. But know that i think about it that wasn’t the case, you see a couple of weeks ago i was searching the net, i would use these exact same words in my search "why am i stupid, and why cant i do mental and basic math" through my long search i came across dyscalculia. I read the symptoms and posts people made about their lives. When i read peoples experiences tears fell from my eyes it was like my life was being told in someone else’s writing. People had the same experiences i had.
i felt relieve when i read some of peoples stories. Some so remarkably similar to mine, I mean my life was tuff, ever since i was little i remember spending hours with my parents trying to learn basic math...like 7+9 or 13-6, they would get made at me because i couldn’t figure out or memorize the problems even with countless ours of studying. I think elementary school was the time when i learned to count on my fingers which to this very day helps me gets by high school. In middle school i noticed i had tuff times reading clocks, i could read them but i would have to use my gingers and count the 5x tables for instance if it said it was 1:45 i would count my fingers till i got to 45 which is 9.sometimes people would ask me what time it is and i would just blurt out some random thing to change the conversation and tell them the time after i figured out what it was.
My math teachers noticed my inability to grasp the problems that we were doing so from 6th grade i was up to my neck in "special" classes with some of my friends who were actually very smart but just lazy.
In high school it was different for you see we moved to another state and i felt as if i could start over and be in normal classes with the other kids. Boy was i wrong, for you see we moved to a place we the school was called Mt. Lebanon, it was considered one of the top high schools in the country and i was scared. When i came to get my schedule for high school my guidance teacher asked me my grades that i had in middle school, now i was truthful and told him that they were basically all Cs with the occasional B. So i got my classes and was very satisfied, until i learned that i was in all academic classes. My friend who i new for almost my whole life lived here and i looked at his classes and i noticed that he was taking all honors and advanced stuff... i new then that this would be a very hard school.
My 9th grade year was ok, my math class was cool and easy although i would get very nervous if i was asked to do a problem, thankfully it was all group presentations throughout my 9th grade year in math class so i was happy. Now i don’t no even though dyscalculia doesn’t deal with English or reading i still had some trouble. one day in English we were asked to read parts of the book "to kill a mocking bird" I had to read the trial part which was intense with incredibly long and hard words. That was the most embarrassing day of my life, i started to read and just got so nervous. I was sweating and it felt as if the whole room was centered on me and then my voice began to get wheezy and i stuttered allot. Some people in the class began to laugh and i just felt horrible, when i finished i had the most horrible feeling and headack, the next day i didn’t even feel like going to class because of that so i just went to the nurse’s office. Soon everyone forgot about it and i finished that year.
-also that day i was wearing a red polo shirt which i never wore again that year till 10th grade...and just you wait...
In 10th grade oh man that year was probably the worst year of my life. This time it was math class we were doing problems with right triangles and triangle to figure out the degrees of the sides of many shapes and all. well one day we went over some problems and i was the first one asked... i remember the teacher saying "ned what is 180 degrees minus 58 degrees" at that moment i said "ummm..well its 200 something... um i don’t really know" and i just started to sweat and stutter and have the same panic attack as i did in 9th grade when i read the book. This would happen many times in math class ,some problems i like when the teacher got frustrated and asked me "ned come you know this its simple whats 13-8", i didn’t know i was just having a panic attack... it was so powerful at that moment that i almost passed out. After class i spoke to him and told him that i was sensitive about mental math, he stopped calling on after that and felt a relief.
it was weird at first, i mean i thought i was stupid, i noticed everyone else just new the answers right off the top of their heads but i just couldn’t figure them out. i mean i saw the numbers in my head but they just wouldn’t show me the answers or i couldn’t solve them. With reading i really felt nervous when i was asked to read, it was very strange because by when i read to myself i read perfectly but when i read out loud i just stutter and get a panic attack.
i am in 11th grade right now and i really haven’t had any embarrassing moments yet, i found out about this and i just started to cry, i thought of everything that happened in my life. At some moments i would think that since my sister is mentally retarded, i must have a bad gene or something that gives me my handicap. To this day i haven’t told anyone how i felt about math or reading...except what you are reading right now. I just don’t no how i can tell anyone, i mean how will they take it, how will my parents take it, it just bring tears to my eyes whenever i think about it.
I mean its strange really, i was always the one person that would always be interested in science and everything. I would get books on the history of humans or something when other people would get comic books. I would be the one watching the history/ discovery channel when other people were playing games on their computer. Sometimes i say to myself "why me, why me god why am i so different"
that’s my story i know that many of you have similar ones. I just want to know what should i do, i mean i really couldn’t stand another embarrassing moment in school.
Edited by atsguy on January 23 2006 04:41 AM |
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| atsguy |
Posted on January 23 2006 04:37 AM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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Oh and there is so much more I cant do with math like tell the difference between < and > and many other things. Its just so exciting to now that other people have the same problems like i do, like telling left from right and...wow...Oh and I am so sorry for the incredibly bad spelling and grammar...it’s very emotional for me and stressful right now.
Edited by atsguy on January 23 2006 05:10 AM |
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| Countess |
Posted on January 23 2006 08:07 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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Hello Ned from over the atlantic-see from Germany !
You just really touched my heard and I have tears in my eyes too...
As you can see in my signature, I have a child (aged 9) with dyscalculia and its a daily struggle to do homework. I also have to try to give selfconfidence and mental support.
Please Ned, DONT GIVE UP ON YOU !!!!! There are so many good people out there who survive the daily struggle and some of them are even famous, like Einstein etc.
Well, what to do now: Do little steps at a time. Read and learn more about discalculia, make yourself an expert ! With this knowledge tell your parents/family, then probably your friends and of course the teacher(s). Give them material (book,links etc.) like you found here in the shout-box. You can print them out for free.
Dont be ashamed !!! You cant do anything about it !!! You do try so hard and have figured out some admirable strategies, thats where discalculics are very good at  .
Please, if you have further questions or just want to talk: HERE WE ARE !
All the best
Countess
'You should really be sympathetic to people who suffer 'Normalism' (Geoff)
My Child (born 97) has Dyscalculia
Sorry for any spelling mistakes ;-) |
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| Countess |
Posted on January 23 2006 09:46 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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EDIT :
see Parents-corner for < and > 
Countess
'You should really be sympathetic to people who suffer 'Normalism' (Geoff)
My Child (born 97) has Dyscalculia
Sorry for any spelling mistakes ;-) |
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| atsguy |
Posted on January 23 2006 10:15 PM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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thanks...i really think this board is gonna come in handy for learning how to deal with this... now all i have to do is find the courage to tell my parents...i have kept the experinces in mu life from my family, and teachers for far too long.
oh and i checked out the book my thirteenth winter, hopefully i can get my parents to read it so they can understand me better, also i started it and its a great book. |
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| xthewaves |
Posted on January 23 2006 11:45 PM
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Member
Location: *looks at map* ...Uh oh..
Posts: 62
Joined: 2005-11-25
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sometimes people would ask me what time it is and i would just blurt out some random thing to change the conversation and tell them the time after i figured out what it was.
OH MY GOD. I love that xD! I am TOTALLY doing that the next time someone asks me the time.
"Hey, what time is it?"
"TWO O'CLOCK AM. SHUT UP."
|| Ìsís blôws k짧ês åt Ÿôû! <3 ||
|| CHER IS MY NEW IDOL KTHX ||
Those who think that Deafness is a disability are purely under the illusion that they are saying something worth hearing. - Anonymous
If you try to fail and succeed what have you done? - George Carlin |
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| atsguy |
Posted on January 24 2006 05:24 PM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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Well today was the day. i went to my guidance counselor and told him everything, he actually was impressed that i made the connection to dyscalculia. I’m going to be tested on Monday, but i know what’s the results are going to be already.
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| xthewaves |
Posted on January 24 2006 05:41 PM
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Member
Location: *looks at map* ...Uh oh..
Posts: 62
Joined: 2005-11-25
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Well today was the day. i went to my guidance counselor and told him everything, he actually was impressed that i made the connection to dyscalculia. I’m going to be tested on Monday, but i know what’s the results are going to be already.
Ooh. Congratulations .
|| Ìsís blôws k짧ês åt Ÿôû! <3 ||
|| CHER IS MY NEW IDOL KTHX ||
Those who think that Deafness is a disability are purely under the illusion that they are saying something worth hearing. - Anonymous
If you try to fail and succeed what have you done? - George Carlin |
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| Countess |
Posted on January 24 2006 08:13 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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Oh Ned !
WOW, SUPER, GREAT ..... Thumbs up ! YOU DID IT !!!!!
I`m so happy for you. And see, you are not alone.
Please tell us all about it after mondays test.
Big hug from Germany
Yours Countess
'You should really be sympathetic to people who suffer 'Normalism' (Geoff)
My Child (born 97) has Dyscalculia
Sorry for any spelling mistakes ;-) |
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| atsguy |
Posted on January 25 2006 02:24 AM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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I am kind of nervous about the testing. do u guys know what they will do/ask me?
i mean its been a while and i always thought of them asking me quick quest. like whats 25x9, to tell you the truth i always think they are going to think less of me if i say i dont no.
i heard there was going to be some reading involved nd I just hope i dont have a panic attack like i did when i went to go get my citizen ship . Other than that im fine, but still a little nervous
Edited by atsguy on January 25 2006 02:32 AM |
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| eoffg |
Posted on January 25 2006 07:25 AM
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 of clu[26].jpg)
Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1262
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Hi atsguy,
The important thing to remember, is that this test is not like a School Test that we want to get a Pass for.
It's only purpose is to try and get a clear picture of what particular areas you have a difficulty with, and which ones are okay?
So forget about 'trying to Pass', and just focus on trying to help them get a clear idea.
Afterall, you dont want to them to try and help you with some aspect of Dyscalculia that is not a problem for you. Which would just waste your time and theirs.
So just try and be very open and honest with them.
Though I might suggest that you begin by telling them that as a result of difficulties with maths, that you feel anxious when doing maths. Even more so when doing a Maths Test. It helps them if you tell them this.
Also, telling them might reduce your nervousness during the test?
But it is important that they know about this.
You also wrote about some reading being involved? What this is concerned with, is that 4 + 3 can be written as four plus three.
To test the association between the number 4 and the word four.
It can also test something called Procedure, where they give you some facts, which you need to bring together in your mind, to arrive at an answer.
But the real aim of the whole test, is just to identify what you do and dont have a difficulty with. So just be completely open and honest with them. Help them to get as clear a picture as possible.
Even better, it'll give you a clearer picture as well!
Geoff.
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| ert |
Posted on January 25 2006 09:23 PM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1388
Joined: 2005-03-11
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atsguy wrote:
I am kind of nervous about the testing. do u guys know what they will do/ask me?
It's so cool that you asked for help. SO cool.
I don't know what they will ask you, depends on what test they use. If it's an IQ test of some sort, they will give you tasks like putting a group of pictures of a cartoon in the right order, mention numbers backwards that they say out loud, they will ask you what this and that word means and a lot of other things.
It's nothing to be afraid of, but I was too, wow. Just wait and see, the time goes by fast and before you know it, it's over. And it really wasn't that scary |
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| LithiumStella |
Posted on February 02 2006 09:24 PM
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Member
Location: Halifax, NS
Posts: 14
Joined: 2006-02-02
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"Hey, what time is it?"
"TWO O'CLOCK AM. SHUT UP."
Ha, ha! That's funny xP. I feel exactly what Ned goes through-- though some tips for reading outloud if you get stuck just make it up! Most of the time nobody knows the different words because none of them are paying attention anyways . This is so awesome! Finally there are people who I can connect with because all of the problems seem to be the exact ones I go through. Amazing..
joy was her name-- a life unwed. |
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| PuNitrate |
Posted on February 03 2006 10:39 PM
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Member
Location: Montana, U.S.A.
Posts: 28
Joined: 2005-11-25
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Hi Ned--
Welcome! It's really awesome you took the steps to research this and get tested.
They usually ask you questions about 3D objects and pictures, i.e., complete the sequence; recite numbers and letters; ask computation questions; take a writing sample; and test your general knowledge base.
Let us know how it works out!
PuNo4 |
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| atsguy |
Posted on February 10 2006 01:46 AM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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There is a problem. I need permission from my parents to take the test that the school will give me. I have begged and begged and we have even gotten into a fight, I told them everything about my problems. They believe that it is simply because I don’t study hard enough, and that if I do that the school will put me in classes with mentally disabled children like my sister.
Things are falling apart, my parents are really selfish, and they won’t let me take the test.
I really don’t know what to do. I know there is going to be problems especially when I tell my guidance councilor that my parents don’t want me to take it.
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| eoffg |
Posted on February 10 2006 05:54 AM
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Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1262
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Hi Ned,
Their is every chance that you will still be in the same class, and just have some accommodations made?
I would suggest talking to your guidance councilor and explaining the situation. Who could probably tell you what changes would actually be made.
Then you could explain this to your parents, which might ease their concerns?
Afterall, the changes might only be that you can make more use of a calculator, and a few extra minutes for tests?
So if you help them understand more about it, then they might see it differently?
Geoff.
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| Shamarie |
Posted on February 25 2006 04:01 AM
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Member
Location: Olympic Peninsula, Washington
Posts: 10
Joined: 2006-02-06
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Ned? How have things gone? Did you explain things to your councilor? Did he talk to your parents? Did your parents give in or start to understand that Dyscalculia doesn't mean you'll be put in remedial classes, but that you'll be helped with math with tutors and other things? 
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| IAN |
Posted on February 27 2006 09:43 PM
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Member
Location: DERBY, ENGLAND,UK
Posts: 11
Joined: 2006-02-26
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Hi Atsguy
You remind me so much of myselfat your age! I am now nearly 40!!
I still am totally absorbed in history and can not get enough of the history channel and I usually have a couple of history related books on the go a the same time!
I was the same at your age, I was into finding out about history , I didn't read fiction books. I felt some what out of step with a lot of others at school because my brian focused in on stuff like this but couldn't grasp maths; I used to really wish I had a mathmatical brain like the others;
but what needs to happen is that society needs to adapt to the different ways people's brains work! It will happen and you will be still young enough to benefit from the change when it does!
Good luck!
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| Countess |
Posted on February 28 2006 03:40 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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Ned ? Please let us know what`s going on at the moment
Countess
'You should really be sympathetic to people who suffer 'Normalism' (Geoff)
My Child (born 97) has Dyscalculia
Sorry for any spelling mistakes ;-) |
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| atsguy |
Posted on March 12 2006 04:15 AM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-01-23
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Hi guys sry i havent posted in a while.
Well things seem to be going good
I have told my guidence counseler about everything...parents still in deniel. But other than that things are going good. I told most of my teachers and they are keeping an eye on me and its really been helpful.No anxiety attacks or anything.
I guess actually telling people is a good thing. I hope to get tested within the year or next year. |
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