I'm totally new here...mostly joined to relieve some stress and know I'm not the only one having issues with math. -_-
I've struggled with math from day 1, from elementary up to high school.
I can barely tell time, can't memorize basic math tables no matter how much I try (counting on fingers is a must!), mix up numbers and math symbols, can't remember how to solve problems I did mere hours ago, and have trouble reading graphs. I usually get the gist of how to solve the problems--I just screw up the process of solving them or can't quite remember the steps.
I had to retake math 4 times in high school, and I still barely passed. But that didn't bother me, because I barely put in any effort to begin with. (Because I figured, why bother trying if I'm not going to comprehend it anyway?)
My senior year, however, I practiced with my math teacher EVERY DAY after school for 30 minutes to 2 hours, just to make sure I'd pass the class. Even then, I struggled to pass the course. But the teacher let me use my notes and gave me extra time on tests, so I managed to pass! I was so excited!!
But college remedial math is KILLING me. I spend hours every night reviewing things, only to forget them or make stupid mistakes on assessments the next day. If I put this much effort into any other subject, I would get an easy A+...but I am going to fail this class for certain.
So I want to see if I do indeed have a math disability, and find out if there is anything I can do to help my situation...because it's so frustrating to be trying this hard only to fail. I don't want to receive an F in this course again when I retake it.
But I'm not sure how math disabilities are tested, and I'm a bit nervous about it. How do I go about getting tested? What if the test comes out negative and I can't get extra math help? Ugh! So frustrated.
Sorry for writing a novel! I needed to get that all out.
Location: Texas USA Posts: 6101 Joined: 2008-05-25
10/18/11
The test is administered by a licensed professional, usually a psychologist. Some psychologists are 'educational' psychologists. Some have a Ph.D, but other don't. And, sometimes, in some situations, a college won't accept anything but the diagnosis of a neuro psychologist. There are usually two tests to choose from, the Wechsler and the Woodcock Johnson. The Wechsler seems to be to be more 'general', and it renders an IQ score. The Woodcock Johnson seems to me more 'specific', and is a great test, but it does not render an IQ score. Yes, I hope that you will get tested and diagnosed. The accommodations that are available to those with a Mathematics Disorder diagnosis could make your way in college a success. - jus'
Ah, thank you for the information! I will look into both tests a little more. Funny how googling this stuff gives me nothing, but one reply on a forum tells me everything I need to know! Haha.
Location: United States Posts: 1860 Joined: 2008-11-14
Hey Zetta, I'm Kat, welcome to the forum! Like Jus said, you'll have to be tested by a psychologist. She explained the two tests so well (and succinctly, something I'm awful at) that I won't bother going over them again.
Some of the accommodations that you might receive for a diagnosis of Mathematics Disorder (the name for dyscalculia in the DSM-IV-TR, the most recent edition of the mental health diagnostic Bible, so to speak) could include extra time on tests, unrestricted four-function calculator use, formula sheets (less common, but some people get them), a note-taker, tutoring, testing in a quiet environment, etc. If you were tested and diagnosed, you would meet with a disabilities adviser in your college to discuss what accommodations would be most appropriate to help you succeed.
Contact your school's department of disability to get recommendations on where you can get tested. Some schools do in-house testing, others will refer you to psychologists in your community who will perform the testing. My university recently started offering free learning disability testing to students (a way for PhD students to get practice performing the tests), but most schools do not offer these tests for free, but may offer them for a reduced fee through their department. It just depends on the school. If you have to go to an outside psychologist to be tested it might cost several hundred dollars, but it will absolutely be worth it if you are diagnosed with a disability.
Hope that helps, and once again, welcome to the forum!
"The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." - Eric Hoffer
zetta, I sure do know how it is to struggle and fail again and again!
I received many accommodations at my university after the diagnosis of math LD, I hope that your testing provides the outcome you need and that you also receive appropriate accomodations
Well, I visited the student accommodations department at my school the other day, and apparently even if I had a diagnosis, they can only do so much for me. In remedial math, I guess no calculators are allowed period. No matter what your situation. :/ There was little they could do for me besides giving me a note-taker and removing distractions...which really isn't helpful considering its an online course. It's frustrating.
But I spoke with my math teacher, who said she is willing to help me one-on-one and offer new study tips to make sure I retain what I'm learning, and help me double-check myself so I don't make those "silly little mistakes" while doing problems. It's a long shot, but maybe I'll be able to pull through without any accommodation aid.
Anyway, thanks for the support and information.
Edited by zettafail on October 19 2011 11:00 PM
Location: United States Posts: 1860 Joined: 2008-11-14
Zetta, it sounds like you've got a great teacher who really wants you to succeed... and that's half the battle. When you have your teacher on your side, you really can move mountains. I went through all of high school with no accommodations (I wasn't diagnosed until my freshman year of college after flunking out of Pre-Calculus Algebra) but I had an amazing teacher who taught both my Honors Trig and Honors Analytic Geometry classes. She spent hours with me after school every week giving me one-on-one tutoring and helping me with my homework.
I would pull a desk up next to her desk and I would do my homework while she was grading papers... whenever I had a question she would stop what she was doing and help me with my assignment. School got out at 2:40 PM but some days we would be there in her classroom until 4:30 or 5 PM, just doing my homework or studying for an upcoming test. This was every week, 2-3 times a week, for the entire school year (each class was a semester long).
She is, to this day, one of the most amazing educators I've ever met in my life, and because of her I passed both Honors Trig and Analytic Geometry with a solid C+ in each... the hardest earned grades I've ever gotten!!! I am normally never satisfied with anything less than an A, but even my teacher said to me, "You worked harder for those C's than anyone else in this class worked for their A's, so be proud of them."
Make your math teacher your new best friend, and you stand a fighting chance of getting through that remedial math class with a passing grade and maybe even your sanity intact. "The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings." - Eric Hoffer
I had pretty much the same accommodations as 'Kat, though I never got so far as Trig. I took Geometry in high school and got either a C or a B, because the good notes I took and my attendance were a big part of the grade.
DVR did purchase a special calculator for me to use in my college Stats class <required for major, couldn't sub or waive> and also for use in the basic, general class specifically for students with LD, which was not listed anywhere. You had to go through Disabled Student Services to access it.
I also had priority registration and access to other classes not available widely to the general student population.
Edited by RottieWoman on October 20 2011 12:47 PM
