Hi,
I have recently found this site and it has proven to be very helpful to me.
Like so many others on this site I have struggled for years with math. Amazingly enough I still keep in touch with my Grade 1 teacher, ( I am 42 years old now) and she can remember my having problems in math even in grade one.
I have only just come to the realization that Dyscalulia is most likely what the issue is, and am in the process of setting up appointments with an educational pyschologist to be formally tested.
For years I thought I was just slow with math, I had missed the funamentals of math as a child in school as I was in and out of hospital with another illness and everyone thought I was just a little behind everyone else and eventually I would get it.
But deep down inside I knew I didn't know math. I suffered through years of poor teachers who either told my parents that I understood it and passed me on to the next grade, or teachers who would go through a math text book and find the easiest thing to teach me and call it quits. The absolute worse was high school. I attended an all girls school where my math teacher was a man (with no patience) I remember working really hard on my homework and the test. My test came back and I had failed another one. He lost his patience with me, began to cry telling me I would never amount to anything, to leave his class and not come back. I was sent for some time to the libarary until it was discovered I was there instead of math class the teacher refused to have me back and they put me in remdial class. There I thought I would finally get some help and begin to learn math.
Instead the same pattern repeated, the teachers got frustrated and just let me do whatever I could. I ended up helping an autistic student learn to tie her shoes.
I worked a series of jobs in the food industry, was promoted to management, but always struggled with balancing the cash at the end of the day. It would take me forever. Often at that the bank deposit slips were returned with errors corrected that I had made. I hadn't counted the totals right for the deposit.
Now today I am currently in the job of my dreams, I am a training specialist for a travel insurance company. I started out training customer support agents who handle telephone calls from clients calling for claim status updates and othe information.
As my role is increasing I am now being crossed trained as a claims examiner. This is where my real problems begin. I am not able to do the math calculations that are required. Get a calculator to do the math and the system will do the rest as you enter the bills and the claims. The problem is I have trouble with decimal places, rates of exchange, and I transpose numbers. I don't see that I am doing this, even when it's pointed out to me.
As a trainer I am expected to check my student's work and I am not able to because I can not recognize the errors. My trainer at the time suspected something, ( he is also a close friend) he took me out for lunch away from the office and asked if there was something wrong as he was noticing I was struggling with basic calculations. He is a former accountant and this stuff just flies through his mind.
It was then I told him my story. At the time we both thought it was a matter of brushing up on skills I hadn't been using as I avoided most situations involving math and learn a few new ones. He encouraged me to seek the help of a tutor which I have been going to weekly for about a year now. I have made progress but not strong enough or fast enough.
I have just completed the second phase of claims training where by the claims and the calculations are much much harder, more complex dealing with multiple rates of exchange, percentages of deductibles, co-pays and other insurnace payments.
Oddly enough when asked the theory questions I can answer them correctly, but I can not do the math. I can be shown and walked through a claim step by step left to do the next one which is the exact same and have no recollection of what I am supposed to do.
All of the claims I have processed so far have been returned with errors most of which would involve an over or under payment which as you can imagine dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars is pretty scary.
My trainer had another talk with me after coming to the realization of just how bad this is and suggested that I now reveal this to my boss. As I am not able to do some of the work required. Needless to say I am upset and very worried about losing my job. I am hoping if I go in with a positive attitude and a list of things I am doing to improve it the discussion and fall out will not be as bad as I think it will be. I tend to be 'gloom and doom' when it comes to things like this.
Has anyone else ever had to reveal this to their employer? How did it go?
What can I expect with testing during a formal assesment?
Thank you for letting me share a bit of my story. Sorry it's a bit long, but I love to write that was the area in school I did well in.
Location: Texas USA Posts: 6136 Joined: 2008-05-25
6/17/12
Hi Miss Dixie,
I totally loved your story. Loved it. And, of course, I identify with so much of it. Even the way that you started out talking about your Grade 1 teacher. I'm older than you, and my Grade 1 teacher was already old when I was in her class, so she wouldn't be alive any longer, but she was wonderful, just like yours.
I'm so glad that you are on a path to get tested. <smiles> You thought that you had 'missed the fundamentals'. haha Yes. That sounds like so many of us. Another way that I've seen this put is that we seemed to have 'missed the memo'. But then, we do semesters and years of developmental math,... and we are still without a firm anchor.
Oh, and that male math teacher,... could it have been 'mine recycled'? In 7th grade, I had a dashing young man as my math teacher. He looked and sounded like Bob Saget when he was young,... all dapper and witty. Well, I sat on the front row, right in front of him, while he did the blackboard thing with numbers. Once, when he totally surprised me with doing something mathematically that might have even been a breakthrough for me, he made a joke of my heightened interest, waving his hand down, and saying, "Back to sleep." Sound familiar?
And, I'm sorry, but it's almost too funny for words that, in the midst of all that rejection and chaos, you used your kind heart to teach an autistic girl to tie her shoes,... probably something that no one else could have done. You could have written a concerto, too. Or learned Chinese. But 'no', they had you learning to suffer in silence instead.
I worked 'deli' and 'grill cook'. Cashiered some. My cash box always balanced, but I was unable to 'rush'. So, employers would tire of me and want to get rid of me. But I always 'showed up' and did my job, so the job could drag on for months,... me knowing all along that the boss was lining up my replacement for 'whenever' and 'however' he could get rid of me.
And now, your heartbreak of having a good job that you excel at, but with the math raising its ugly head again. I've lost two high finance jobs while still in the training phase. One trainer for another 'bank' job tried to trip me up daily to get me out of the program, but couldn't. I lasted about three months in that job. There was too much 'wheeling and dealing' to be done mentally, then offering the 'deal' to the client and waiting for the response,... all the while thinking of what was best for the bank (really) and not the client. My heart wasn't in it.
But in your case,... 'trainer',... yes, I can see how that would be a shame to loose. I would have loved to be a company trainer. Even though the person who took you to lunch is your tutor/friend, still, that scenario brought to my mind a prelude to getting you to think about finding a different job. I'm sure he was trying to be supportive, but he's got bosses, too.
I was privy to the workings of a business that dealt in container loads of merchandise. Quoting a price that was 'one penny' off could have meant the loss (or gain) of thousands of dollars, so I know what you mean. Miss Dixie, those just aren't good places for us as dyscalculics. I have a paralegal degree, and I can't take a position of high (unchecked) responsibility either. I'm so sorry that it's come down to this for you.
My IQ test was a Wechsler and it took a little over 4 hours. Eat well before you go, because you'll be starving when you get out. If you aren't offered a bathroom break (I wasn't.), be sure to ask for one. They will ask you your 'history'. Mine got misunderstood and misquoted,... so bad that it wasn't even recognizable as 'me'. And then the psychologist wouldn't return my calls about fixing it. (It had been paid for through a government agency in Texas, so I would have had to,... ahem,... make a federal case out of it to get any attention.)
You are a wonderful writer. I hope that you will continue to enjoy that gift and share it. - jus'
Edited by justfoundout on June 17 2012 09:20 PM
Location: Australia Posts: 1263 Joined: 2005-03-20
Hi Miss Dixie,
Is your problem with the transferring of the numbers, to do the calculations, as I imagine that the calculations are all done automatically?
So that you make errors as you enter the numbers?
If this is the case, then you could use 'copy and paste' to transfer the numbers.
If the numbers are on paper, then you could use a 'pen scanner' to scan the numbers from the paper. Pen scanners can be plugged into a computer, to copy and paste. Or they can be used independently. So that it will do calculations, and give you the answer on a small screen. Some have a mini speaker, or a headphone jack, so that it will read out the answer to you.
Thank you Justfoundout and eoffg for your responses.
I appreciate your support and your suggestions.
Tomorrow is the day I meet with my boss to let her know that I suspect I have this disability.
I have discussed it wih my family and my trainer and it is the best thing to do now the time has come. I would rather bring it forward myself rather than have it brought to me by upper management.
I am going in with a postive attitude with a list of duties that I am able to do and outline the steps I am currently taking to improve my math abilities.
She is a very receptive person and I am hoping she will be understanding, and my job will not be in question. I don't want to give up and will continue to practice these claims but I just need them to understand that it is going to take me longer than others and there are some things that I am not able to without further education and training.
If I may ask those who can to keep a good thougt in mind.
I will let you know how this meeting goes.
Thank you also for the technical advice I will have to wait and see what the response is from my boss. As we have a very tight security with our equipment and programs, I may not be able to employ them at work but will investigate them further for home use they sound very interesting. Amazaing what technology is able to do.
I am very glad to have found this site, I hope to return tomorrow with good news. Non the less I plan to stick around. I know there is a lot to learn from all of you!
Location: Texas USA Posts: 6136 Joined: 2008-05-25
6/18/12
Yes, Miss Dixie, I hope the best for you. That would be wonderful if they would decide that they could just show a little patience toward you, while appreciating all the good that you do. - jus'
I've disclosed my LD after formal hire, pretty much every time since I was diagnosed in college. Responses have varied but sometimes the outcome is positive and things end up working out - i think one of the keys, is to have suggestions for ways to do things differently and ways co-workers can work with you. I think it's very smart of you to consider how it may be better that you bring it up, as opposed it come from to management's attention w/o you.
I think also your idea about the steps and how you say you'll take toward improvement, could help your presentation.
Wish you the best of luck tomorrow!
I am thrilled to report that my meeting with my boss could not have gone better if I had planned it.
I nervously started to explain to her my back ground of missing school due to childhood illness and how my math skills were not as strong as others and before I could get any further my boss said, "Oh I have a mild form of Dyscalulia" and began to tell me what it was, I stopped her and said that's what I believe I have!!!!
Then I asked her for a hug! I was so relieved! We spent most of the rest of the meeting comparing notes on what it was like growing up, how she has covered it up avoided situations.
I couldn't believe it! I would never have thought that would be her reaction. I showed the information I printed off anticipating she had never hearf of it, she thought that was great but knew it already!
She assured me I had nothing to worry about the work arounds are easily handled and I can concentrate on my other talents that she hired me for. This was minor.
She encouraged me to be formally assesd so that she and my collegue friend can develop stratetgies for me.
I am so relieved I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.
Thank you to everyone for thier kind thoughts,
I am going to stick around there is so much to learn from everyone!
closest I came to that was when I worked as case manager with adults with cognitive disabilities and on the severe end of the Spectrum; due to the nature of the job, co-workers and supervisors were very accommodating.
Location: Texas USA Posts: 6136 Joined: 2008-05-25
6/20/12
I've never had such good results as yours,... actually, mine have been dismal, but you give me hope that the same thing could happen to me someday. - jus'
Wow, what a fairy tale ending to what could have (and under "normal" circumstances almost certainly should have) been the end of a career. I'm so happy that your situation had a happy ending, Miss Dixie.
Jus, you continue to amaze me when you write things that I completely relate to. I have the same problem you do. I'm the most dedicated employee an employer could ever wish for, but like you, I am slow. Often it takes the employer months to find a way to get rid of me too. It's awful to know that your time is so limited--I can always sense it coming. I will tell people that I will be gone soon and they'll always say that I'm being paranoid, not to worry, and then the ball drops. I just smile and say, "I knew it was coming."
Anyway, I wanted to welcome you to the forum, Miss Dixie. You've found a great group of people here.
Ladyhawke
Algebra? When I learn decimals and fractions, you're welcome to try teaching me, but unless you have the patience of a saint and are very long-lived, good luck with that...
Location: Texas USA Posts: 6136 Joined: 2008-05-25
6/25/12
Thanks, Ladyhawk. If you can 'relate', then that makes me feel better about not being 'believed' by other people. When I went to my State's government agency, trying to get them to pay for my testing, at that same time I'd had to quit a job. After quitting, I was on the phone with my Counselor at the Vocational Rehabilitation agency. I said, "I've lost my job. I had to quit." But he immediately straightened me out saying, "You quit your job.",... emphasizing that I hadn't 'lost it'. Supposedly, this proved that the problem was my lack of perseverance. It was a job giving people the amounts that they owed in back taxes, so as not to loose their property. I had to search on three different data bases by all manner of criteria to find the properties in question. My trainer told admin that I wasn't learning fast enough. Such a miserable situation. I saw it as a loosing battle. The stress seemed to make my IQ go lower and lower. - jus'
Edited by justfoundout on June 25 2012 06:42 PM
My problem with doing accounts at work seems to be mostly due to pressure. If the boss is in a big hurry to get it done, I will inevitably screw it up. If I'm given more time to do it, then I get it right. I need that extra time to double check my numbers so I get it right. Simple addition, such as doing up a client account, is something I can do but only with sufficient time. So far, I"ve gotten away with my screw-ups by using nervousness as the reason for the screw-ups because he doesn't often pressure me to get an account done right away.
I have, however, lost several jobs because I simply couldn't handle the pressure and screwed up too many accounts. They were always attributed to not being able to handle pressure, but the truth is obviously the Dyscalculia was the driving force behind it.
Edited by Ladyhawke on July 01 2012 02:39 PM
Algebra? When I learn decimals and fractions, you're welcome to try teaching me, but unless you have the patience of a saint and are very long-lived, good luck with that...
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