Location: Australia Posts: 1262 Joined: 2005-03-20
Hi Ned,
Good to hear from you again, and I'm really glad that things seem to be going good!
You make an important point, when you wrote:"I guess actually telling people is a good thing."
As it provides them with some sort of explanation. Otherwise they'll just make up their own explanation? Must be lazy or stupid?
If people aren't given an explanation, what else can they think?
But of great importance, is that you have had no anxiety attacks.
Which is a really important reason for explaining Dyscalculia to people.
No one should be made to feel anxious about their Dyscalculia by other people. But it is the responsibility of Dyscalculics to give people an explanation.
Where the choice is between a brief moment of embarassment, or ongoing anxiety about what people will think if not given an explanation.
Anyway, well done Ned!
Geoff.
I am really sad to hear about the difficulties you have had with your parents.
As you said though in a year or so you can take the test and your teachers are keeping an eye on you.
But lets be honest, you already know what you have and the test will just confirm it to them not you.
Its good that you are telling people.All you have to do (and Im still working on this this) is accept yourself for who you are. Most dyslexics and dyscalulics seem to be really talented in other areas anyway.Teacher with dyscalculia
Location: Math Scroo~up Zone Posts: 112 Joined: 2006-06-03
Hey Ned, I applaude your efforts at speaking up! You have Guts and that will see you through many trials. Perhaps your parents don't really understand what Dyscalculius is and fear it because of your sister's retardation? Perhaps you could get your teacher, counselor and parents together to discuss your desire to be tested and what it means for your education. At any rate, Good Luck Sign me OneOutofOrderScrewball:
Edited by OneOutofOrderScrooball on June 14 2006 08:32 PM
Location: Midwest - USA Posts: 53 Joined: 2006-06-15
hello, i haven't figured out how to post without posting a reply, so this really isn't a reply to the last post.
i'm 30 yrs old and live in the upper midwestern united states. if anyone on this forum can help me find out how an adult can be tested for dyscalculia, i'd greatly appreciate it.
not sure when i first heard of dyscalculia, but it wasn't that long ago. i've always known something was "wrong" with me when it came to math and spacial visualization, but no one ever pulled me aside to suggest a learning disability. i remember my first difficulties with number and spacial concepts in kindergarten! mathematical learning disabilities were unheard of when i was a child. i was well-behaved and advanced in my other classes, so sympathetic teachers gave me extra time on math tests. i would have never passed a math class without that. i often had all my other homework done before i got home, but still spent hours at home on my math homework. however, all my standardized test scores looked like the graph of an earthquake with my math scores plummeting during timed tests.
the descriptions of dyscalculia sound like my life story. i'm incapable of abstract calculations - even simple addition. the numbers simply "disappear" from my mind when i try to calculate without paper and pencil. i still get the same simple adddition, subtraction, multiplication and division calculations wrong that i did as a child. geometry was extremely difficult and i barely passed. i made it through to really basic trigonometry as i could grasp big picture concepts (with time), but my teachers still let me use my study hall hour to finish my tests. even then, my math grades were never spectacular.
those kind teachers and my strong language skills got me into college, but without a diagnosis, i have no legal protection in terms of pursuing grad school or career-wise. i'm stuck in a boring, simple job because i can't safely explain to an employer why i can't read financial statements. this why i so badly want to be tested. in 1999 i had a full battery of tests for learning disabilities in general. it said i had a "weakness" in math, but i didn't qualify for the legal definition and therefore could not get extra time on the GRE (graduate records examination). the test administrator admitted adults have mastered their compensatory skills and are hard to test. one standard of measure did define me as having a post-secondary learning disability, but this research was not recognized by the law.
there is no way i do not have dyscalculia and i'm frustrated by this diagnosis. yes, i'm very good at hiding my inabilities, but people who know me well know that i cannot comprehend statistical information, i'm terrified of cash transactions, i need to count backwards by 5 minute increments on the face of a clock to figure out what time i should wake up in order to be some place on time, and i struggle with cooking instructions because the measurements and sequence get me flustered, etc. i get lost very easily when driving someplace for the first time (i rely on landmarks) and it's very difficult to read a map. The examples are endless and the memories of the experiences humiliating and emotional.
so there's my sob story. if anyone knows which direction to point me in for an adult diagnosis, you will be my hero forever. i'm really good at language skills and if i could just get extra time on the math portion of the GRE (or maybe even the LSAT - law school admission test), i would pass no sweat. i have no intention of pursuing anything math-heavy. if i did law, it'd probably be immigration.
thanks for listening, whoever is out there. and thanks to the person who created this forum. i am grateful.
Hi elle - I sent you an email just now, explaining how to post. You are welcome to post this message in a whole new thread of course
What state do you live in? That would help a lot when it comes to finding help - and the area you live in. Only if you want to tell about private things like that of course.
You can go to http://www.ldanat... and find your state - from there, you find the state learning disabilities association, and contact them - they can help you find ways to get diagnosed
Location: Australia Posts: 1262 Joined: 2005-03-20
Hi Elle and welcome to the Forum,
It seems that you might want to use the diagnosis to get some accommodations to undertake further studies?
Though I would just mention something called the 'Oh, But' clause that many colleges and unis have?
Where you present them with your diagnosis, and then they say:'Oh, but it needs to be from Dr A, B or C. But you've got one from Dr D.
Or else, your diagnosis doesn't include some 'minor detail', that they require.
So you suddenly have to pay for another diagnosis, and also find that you cant get an appointment for another six months?
It doesn't happen all of the time, but often enough that I thought that I'd mention it? So if you want to use a diagnosis for further Studies. Then it would be safest to contact any institutions you might want to study with, and simply find out whose diagnosis they will accept, and any particular details that need to be included?
Just a thought?
Geoff.
Location: Midwest - USA Posts: 53 Joined: 2006-06-15
thanks admin (name?) and geoff. very helpful hints.
i did email the local chapter of one national LD organization but got no response. found out about the author of "smart but stuck" on this site and emailed her (she's in the chicago area, i'm in wisconsin, just north). she forwarded my request to another organization and said she'd try to help me figure something out if they did not respond.
good to know about the unofficial "oh, but..." rule. i didn't investigate too much at my alma mater. i was one semester away from graduation and disillusioned. i inquired about testing and was sent to a PhD at the Educational Phsyc department or whatever it's called. Then the campus LD service office sent the results to the GRE folks who rejected a request for extra time on the math portion. i gave up, put my test results in a folder and buried it. now that i'm reading more about dyscalculia, i don't believe my test was accurate. honestly, i'm not even sure it specifically screened for dyscalculia! i'd have to have an expert look at it.
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,
You have Guts and that will see you through many trials. Perhaps your parents don't really understand what Dyscalculius is and fear it because of your sister's retardation? Perhaps you could get your teacher, counselor and parents together to discuss your desire to be tested and what it means for your education. At any rate, Good Luck
OneOutofOrderScrewball
