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Hi...thought I should introduce myself
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 21 2006 01:03 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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Hi.
I'm Saeria and I'm 26. I live in Norway and I am going to take the dyscalculia test next week.
I guess my story is a bit different than a lot of you guys's. I did well in math up until 9th grade. The school system in Norway is a bit different than the american. It has even changed a bit since my time. 7-9th was the equvivalent of junior high.
Letters started showing up in math during ninth grade, and som my grades started becoming worse. I went to high school and I had to be given an extra test to pass math and I barely did it.
Two years I decided to take up a few of my high scool classes to better my grade point average. I took up math and i actualy got a grade which could be compared to a C. The only reason for me getting that grade in the first place, was the fact that we were allowed to bring our own notes if we put them in our little book of math formulas. Mine was packed full of examples and explanations to those examples, explaining what i had done and why.
I did the same thing when I took "sophomore" math. I got the same results there, but I almost failed my exam, but at least I had the requirements I needed to get go study Bioengineering.
I totally denied having a math problem, even though it stared me straight in the face. I could read, solve problems and understand. but it was all gone the next hour, chapter or day. I could spend 12 hours straight working on my math, it was still gone the next day.
I should have realized my problem, but I didn't. Stupid, huh?
I got my chance to study bioengineering this summer, and I started in college this semester. I have math, statistics an chemistry, anatomy and communication and ethics. I soon found out that I couldn't bring my own notes to the exams I'm having in math and statistics. I was now forced to realize I had a huge problem. Nothing in chemistry, math og statistics makes sense to me. Numbers like 1,07*10^-26 are way beyond my comprehention. I can solve the easiest propability problems, but that's about it. Basic trigonometry is also all right, but we're not having trigonometry in my class. I understand angles.
It was the hardest thing ever to ask for help. Thing in my past have made everyone in my family to see me as the strong one, the smart one and the one who always gets stuff right, despite the fact that I'm the youngest one. I'm the one who had top results in many of my high school classes, so why should math be such a problem? But I now know that math was more of a problem than what I originally thought.
I hope the test will document my problems so I can get professional help. Cause I'm gonna need it if I am to pass my "number classes" |
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| ert |
Posted on September 21 2006 02:07 PM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1388
Joined: 2005-03-11
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A Scandinavian! There are not a lot of us around (at the forum) yet. I guess you know about http://www.dyskal...?
Anyways, welcome to the forum. It's good to hear that you got the courage to figure out why you have a problem with math. Even if it is not dyscalculia, the test can give you a reason to why ELSE you have this problem. |
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 21 2006 02:22 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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Thanx.  I guess dyscalculia isn't all that known in scandinavia. I've been spending a lot of time at a norwegian maths page trying to solve mathproblems for 13-15 year old pupils. Almost all my answers were wrong. I had 2 of 10 or 3 of 10 right tops!
It's like almost everything is gone. I know +, -, and some and /. I'm not sure how to write the problems right on paper. letters, square roots and all the other represent problems for me, and are frustrating.
I'm having the test on wednesday, but the results won't be given to me before week 42. That's a long wait. Especially since I have one paper in chemistry where I need to have 60% right and 2 papers in math/statistics before my results are coming. |
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| Countess |
Posted on September 21 2006 03:42 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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Hello Saeria and welcome to the forum 
As you can see, it`s not only americans here  , I`m from Germany.
I wish you luck on your test and that the time wont be so long for you. If you need some "cheering up", just say so, we do it online 
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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| KMG |
Posted on September 21 2006 05:02 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 71
Joined: 2006-06-24
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Welcome to the forum Dyscalculia isn't all that well known in America either. 
“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” Albert Einstein |
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 24 2006 10:54 AM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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Thank you guys.
I've had my sister over this weekend, and it was really good for the both of us. I had a complete panic attack on thursday. The same day we were informed about a chemistry test, involving a lot of calculations and stuff I can't get my head around. I had to leave school after class, cause I felt I couldn't breathe in there. I cried for hours. Then I found this place. Thank god for you guys.
Friday was alright. Having my sister here was great. She took my mind off my problems, and I'm feeling ok now. Not great but ok.
My chemmistry teacher had never heard of dyscalculia and so I'm going to sit down with him on tuesday and explain properly how it feels to not beeing able to remember anything.
I think things will be ok in the end, but I know I'll have many more hard days to come. I guess it's like that for many of us.
It's sad that dyscalculia is such an unknown LD. Many people have it, and it must be awful to live a whole lifetime without getting any help or understanding. |
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| eoffg |
Posted on September 24 2006 11:44 AM
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 of clu[26].jpg)
Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1262
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Hi Saeria,
As you say: "It's sad that dyscalculia is such an unknown LD. ..."
Where I must thank you for aiming to sit down and explain it to your chemistry teacher. Who has never heard of it before.
Where your chemistry teacher will carry that understanding with him for the rest of his teaching life, and the hundreds or thousands of his future students.
As well as being able to share his understanding with fellow teachers.
Who then mention it to other teachers and their students.
So your explanation to your teacher, is like planting a seed, that will continue to grow and grow.
Yet, after explaining to him, the next step is to start to define the types of 'accommodations' that would assist a Dyscalculic with learning chemistry?
Geoff, |
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| KMG |
Posted on September 24 2006 12:51 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 71
Joined: 2006-06-24
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"One at a time"
Especially teachers who are involved in education that involves math. Good for you for doing that. Even if people are not very accepting of it, the seed is planted and if they come across another student with similar problems they will likely begin to understand the scope of this LD.
I found the teacher I spoke with not long ago was very interested in learning about this "new" LD.
“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” Albert Einstein |
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| Countess |
Posted on September 24 2006 09:12 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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I keep my fingers crossed for you, Saeria. You can do it
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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| Saeria |
Posted on September 25 2006 12:09 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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Thanks for all of your support. I'm going to print out a lot of information and giv it to my teacher tomorrow. Maybe then he'll be able to understand this LD, and how it affects us even more.
This is going to be a hard battle to fight, because I suspect I'm the first one to really pick up this fight at my college. Getting 15 min. extra time on my math exam isn't going to do me any good unless I have other things, such as bringing my own notes to the exam as well. I don't understand or remember mathematical formulas. It's like this weid language that everyone else seem to understand perfectly, exept for me.
Hopefully I'll be able to help future students. |
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 26 2006 11:37 AM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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I've given som information, including the folder, to my chemistry teacher today. He was actually pleased to receive the information, and he told me he was gonna copy it and give it to the institutions leader. She teaches ethics and communication in my class.
So I guess knowledge about the LD is starting to spread at my school. |
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| KMG |
Posted on September 26 2006 12:39 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 71
Joined: 2006-06-24
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“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.” Albert Einstein |
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| Countess |
Posted on September 26 2006 06:08 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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Saeria
YES !!!!! Another one will know about it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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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| Saeria |
Posted on September 26 2006 07:05 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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Yes. Hopefully she'll spread the word. I'm gonna have ethics tomorrow. Hopefully she's read the info by then.
I'm also getting tested tomorrow. Finally a test that won't screw up any grade point averages, but I'm still a bit nervous. What if the test doesn't say LD? Weird, huh. I know I have many of the symptoms and I never got any help, probably because I've always done very well in other subjects.
But I'm glad this is the kinda test where it's ok to make mistakes and misinterpret.
Hopefully this test will give me an explanation to why I mess up when it comes to numers, math consepts and formulas and stuff. |
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| ert |
Posted on September 26 2006 09:09 PM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1388
Joined: 2005-03-11
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Fantastic Saeria 
And good luck tomorrow. Don't stress out, just do what you have to do, and do the best you can at the moment - that's what you're there for. |
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 26 2006 09:22 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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Thanks, ert!
I will do my best, like I always do. |
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| Freda |
Posted on September 26 2006 09:28 PM
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Member
Location: Germany
Posts: 194
Joined: 2006-09-19
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Best of luck to you and GREAT work spreading the word
Testing seems to be on the horizon for me as well and I'm starting to feel anxious too... "What if I -don't- have it?" It was such a relief to know that this existed...
Anyway, good luck! We all know how you feel.
BTW, You're kinda inspirational I want to go into science/engineering in university, but this math thing seems like it may hold me back.. Let's hope not~! |
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 27 2006 04:34 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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The test went ok, but there is a huge chance that I might not get the help I need anyway. I may be too good in math on a elementary level, and if so, it will al depend on my college. If they won't give me any extra help, then I have to quit my studies. That's most likely the case.
I'm absolutely gutted and heartbroken right now. |
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| ert |
Posted on September 27 2006 06:05 PM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1388
Joined: 2005-03-11
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Saeria, let's wait and see what the test shows.
And IF your college refuses to help you, then SCREAM as loud as you can. Contact the media, contact experts, contact Vivvi Ann (dyskalkuli.net) maybe.
This IS approved by WHO, and Norway is not a 3. world country, so money shouldn't be a factor at all. Even though help doesn't exist, you DO have the right to get the help you need, to get a chance in life. Even if this is not dyscalculia.
But before I go all wacko.. let's wait and see what the test shows. |
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| Saeria |
Posted on September 27 2006 08:12 PM
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Member
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 21
Joined: 2006-09-21
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The thing still is...if the school can't provide help....I'm pretty f***ed. But if I have to quit, at least I have a job waiting. |
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