|
UK - hospital states they cannot test me
|
| sian_t |
Posted on July 29 2011 08:55 AM
|
Member
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 3
Joined: 2011-07-29
|
Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any ideas of where else I can turn.
I'm Sian, 23 and a university student in South Wales, UK. Here's what's happened so far.
I had a meeting back in May with the head of psychology and counselling at my university to start the ball rolling with regards to getting diagnosed. She did some simple testing with me and stated that my case was the worse she'd ever seen and referred me to my GP as my uni does not do assessments for dyscalculia.
My GP (who had never even heard of dyscalculia) eventually referred me to the psychologists within my local hospital.
I have recently received a letter back stating that the hospital cannot perform dyscalculia testing and suggest I go back to my uni for testing.
I feel like I'm going round in circles! The head of psychology and counselling at my university is out of the office all summer so she can't be contacted so I don't know where I go from here.
I really need to get it all done with before I start back at uni in late september so my tutors can be made aware and explain things to me in a way that I understand. I'm really struggling at the moment. I've just got fired from my summer job as I have gotten confused twice over which days/times I was supposed to be in work (even though I have my rota written down!) and haven't turned up when I was supposed to. It makes me feel so stupid.
If anyone can offer any advice I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks,
Sian |
| |
|
|
| eoffg |
Posted on July 29 2011 11:09 AM
|
 of clu[26].jpg)
Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1262
Joined: 2005-03-20
|
Hi Sian and welcome to our forum,
You will need to be tested by an educational psychologist, where it looks like your uni wont be paying for it. Hospitals don't usually have an ed. psych. to do the testing. Which is expensive if you have to pay for to yourself.
But as it was the head of psychology that did some simple testing with you. Perhaps she could write a note for your tutors and lecturers?
Though a diagnosis will just confirm that you have a maths disorder, but it wont explain what your tutors need to do, to explain things in a way that you'll understand? So your tutors will probably ask you how you need it explained?
So that as you don't start back at uni until late september?
Perhaps you could spend some time understanding your difficulties with maths and identifying ways of explaining it that you can understand? Along with ways of doing it, that work for you?
Though I might ask what course you are doing, and what sort of maths are involved? |
| |
|
|
| sian_t |
Posted on July 29 2011 01:18 PM
|
Member
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 3
Joined: 2011-07-29
|
Hi! Thanks for your reply  .
I'm studying B.Sc Environmental Conservation, which is a science degree. I have problems with skills that are incredibly important to my course such as collecting & interpreting numerical data, creating and interpreting charts/graphs, measurement, counting/adding/subtracting etc, understanding area, map coordination/using a compass, remembering numbers & statistics... I could go on and on.
90% of my work is scientific reports and I really struggle. Even something as simple as transferring a number from one excel spreadsheet to the other is frustratingly difficult because I either forget the number in that short moment or swap the numbers around or even swap it for an entirely different number.
During exams I am expected to reference correctly and cite the date that the information I am quoting was written - I find this almost impossible, which means that my exam grades also suffer aswell as my report grades.
Unfortunately, unless I have a diagnosis can provide no extra maths support for me or take discalculia into account when I hand in work or sit exams.
I can talk to my tutors about explaining things in a way that I will understand, but at the moment I hold back the rest of the group when after three attempts I still don't understand for example how to work out coordinates or hold back the group when people are waiting for me to measure a leaf which frustratingly I find really hard.
I cannot afford to pay for the testing myself so I'm not sure what to do!
Sian
|
| |
|
|
| justfoundout |
Posted on August 05 2011 10:34 PM
|
Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
|
6/5/11
Hi dustandthings,
I had the same problem with Excel. In fact, the course that included Excel (Basic Computer Literacy) is the one and only college course that I've ever taken that I had to insist on taking an 'incomplete'. The 'incomplete' allowed me to finish doing the assignments over the Summer, and then take the Final test at a predetermined time (in my case, November) of the following semester. I did finally get an A, but I never did actually understand how to 'set up' an Excel sheet, nor how to properly enter a formula.
In a different class,... a Civil Litigation class in the Paralegal curriculum,... I had to ask the teacher to repeat what he had said, as it was very important to take proper notes in order to pass the test. This happened a few times. It wasn't really my fault. Rather, the teacher talked too fast when using new, and 'industry specific' terminology. But one day, I was shocked to hear a young woman who sat across the aisle from me yell out at me, "Oh shut up!" And I was even more shocked that the teacher 'let' her. This was prior to getting my professional testing and diagnosis. Without the diagnosis, there is no protection at all for us here in the US. I surely hope that you'll be able to get tested.
Please send a PM to our forum member tr3slunas. She's been tested in London by Dr. Butterworth, and she may have some good ideas for you. - jus' |
| |
|
|
| sian_t |
Posted on August 12 2011 10:26 PM
|
Member
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 3
Joined: 2011-07-29
|
JFO - That is awful about your teacher! Mine explains it a second time, then carries on with the class regardless of what I say. Fingers crossed after I have the diagnosis the tutors will be a bit more patient...
Tr3slunas has been so helpful and I have managed to get a place on a dyscalculia research project and will be tested in early September. Finally some good news
Sian |
| |
|
|
| justfoundout |
Posted on August 13 2011 12:04 AM
|
Member
Location: Texas USA
Posts: 6101
Joined: 2008-05-25
|
8/12/11
Hi dustandthings,
Fantastic! I'm so glad that you contacted her. She's been a blessing to many people. I hope that your testing will be a richly rewarding experience. Thanks for the 'condolences' on my difficult class. - jus' |
| |
|
