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A Little Scared
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on January 13 2007 02:35 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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All right, so as I mentioned on my thread "What Can I Do?" I got tested by the school (again). And with the tests that they did, I highly doubt that I'm going to be diagnosed with dyscalculia. But I know I have it! I'm 100% positive! I don't think their testing was extensive enough to prove anything except that I'm really slow doing math. And this is really frustrating and really frightening, because I need help and they won't give me anymore than I'm already getting unless I'm dianosed officially dyscalculic. Because if I'm not diagnosed, they'll tell me I'm "fine". I am not fine! I've been going to tutoring since third grade and it hasn't helped a bit! Doesn't that mean something?!
I was talking to my one friend about it and I was like, "I won't be diagnosed, but I need to be. I need an answer as to why I suck at math so much." He was like, "It's just not your strength." Thanks. I know that. But it goes further than "not being a strength". I should not get migraines in class or forget everything I learned earlier in the day. It doesn't make sense. I'm dyscalculic! I can't tell time or count money or anything... but none of this will matter to the school if I'm not diagnosed positive.
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| Laura |
Posted on January 13 2007 02:48 PM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1229
Joined: 2006-11-16
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Hey Theatre i do hope you get the results you want. I mean to say they better get your diagnoisis right. You have fought so many battles and been through so much that i am sure you will get the correct diagnoisis. My fingers are crossed for you. Your school seems to be quite naff in the sense that they seem unprepared to help you. I feel most school's are like that. I am not dyscalic but i do have a major weakness in maths(hence all the posts) and i too hate it when people say that "it's just not your strenrth" or "everyone has a weakness and your's is just maths" WHATEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Lynx |
Posted on January 13 2007 04:41 PM
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Location: Cardiff / Bristol
Posts: 94
Joined: 2007-01-11
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Yeah Theatre I must admit that is highly annoying when people say that sort of thing. Dyscalculia is different to just a weakness in maths.
I think it's because quite a lot of the time people don't understand it and quite a lot of people have only just found out about it and don't take it seriously enough. I hope they get your diagnosis right. |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on January 13 2007 08:06 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 915
Joined: 2006-08-13
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Hey there Theatre, I understand your anxiety, I been through the same prior to get my own test results. I was sure that they would get the diagnostic wrong and yet, that's not what happened - So take it easy and try not to drive yourself crazy, you are probably worrying for nothing.
In the case that the results turn-out to be not what you expect, believe it or not, it's not the end of the world.
Let me explain: You got tested for what? Because you have a hard time with maths --You don't need a test to know that-- Whatever the test results will be,you will be provided with suggestions, coping strategies, work-methods and perhaps teaching approaches that should help you. In other words, you are still getting the help you need.
You seem to think that you need the dyscalculic label to be sort of "worthy" of getting the help you need. This isn't true. Besides, in the occurence that you get diagnosed with dyscalculia; What makes you think that this will mark then end of all your troubles? It doesn't end there, quite the contrary. Many have to fight to get the help and respect they deserve.
Dyscalculic or not, the end result will be the same - The only person who can trully help you, is yourself (that is, assuming you want to) |
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| scifinut |
Posted on January 13 2007 08:28 PM
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Member
Location: Washington State
Posts: 10
Joined: 2007-01-08
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Just my $.02 but most schools will not diagnose dyscalculia. If you truly want an accurate, thorough diagnosis of what is going on, it is best to get tested by a Neuropsychologist. Neuropsychologist's have more training and can better analyze testing data to get more accurate results. They also can have more information on the variety of therapies and accommodations that can be helpful.
scifinut, mom to:
Ms. 15, bp/adhd/complex LD |
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on January 13 2007 09:53 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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^The tests were given to the school by a neuropsychologist. I didn't really want the school to test me, I wanted the neuropsychologist to do it, but the testing was so expensive that we decided to let the n.p. give the school the tests to give me, which is cheaper.
My school is... well, they're stupid. Some of them think I'm making up dyscalculia because I don't like math and want to get out of it. They think I'm just lazy. Being diagnosed will give them solid proof. And they can't really help me any more than they already are- they aren't willing to pay anything for, well, anything. I'm getting tons of tutoring, and this would be great, but it's not working. I'm still barely passing.
I just want to know why I have such a problem. I don't want to tel people, "I'm bad at math. I get my numbers mixed up and stuff." That doesn't cover all of my problems. But simply saying, "I'm dyscalculic"- well, that is easy. And if they don't know what it is, then i can explain, "It's like math dyslexia." There's information online. But there's no information online on me and how much I suck at math. Telling someone I have dyscalculia shows how deeply my math problems go. Lots of people are bad at math, but there should be no reason why I try one hundred times harder than anyone else in my class and I'm still pretty much failing.
The main thing is, it's for me. I need to know why I try so hard and fail so much. And if I'm not dyscalculic, what am I? I'm not just bad at math. I'm too far gone for that.
I've had two teachers tell me that they have tried everything for me and nothing's working. It seems like such a hopeless situation.
I don't think at all that getting diagnosed will be the end ofmy troubles, but I will feel a little better. I'll know I'm not stupid. There's a reason why I can't do a second grader's math homework. If I'm not dyscalculic, why can't I do those things?
And let me just say this: if I am diagnosed positive, I'm not going to, like, go up to everyone and be like, "Hi, I'm Rachel and I'm dyscalculic." I'll only tell people who need to know. I mean, why tell people who don't need to know?
Edited by TheatreLvr08 on January 13 2007 09:55 PM
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| Laura |
Posted on January 13 2007 10:18 PM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1229
Joined: 2006-11-16
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Theatre your last bit is soooooo true. No-one else needs to know except the people who need to ie Maths teacher. my friend at work is dyslexic and i am the only person who knows and she is quite high up so no-one technically needs to know anything. I hope this makes sense??? |
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on January 13 2007 10:24 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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Yeah, it does. I mean, the people I'd tell would be my best friends, my math teacher, and, of needed, my science teacher. They're the only people who need to know.
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| Laura |
Posted on January 13 2007 10:36 PM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1229
Joined: 2006-11-16
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Exactly so if you do get diagnoised as being dyscalcuic then it will just be the people concerened in your education/family/friends who will need to know. Hey most people at work think i am doing Higher Maths at college which is the second top grade you can do. No-one knows i am actually doing Core Maths 3 which is the 2nd lowest. |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on January 14 2007 01:02 AM
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Location: No value
Posts: 915
Joined: 2006-08-13
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It sounds like a lot of the staff at your school aren't very supportive. That's really too bad  |
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| eoffg |
Posted on January 14 2007 08:49 AM
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 of clu[26].jpg)
Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1262
Joined: 2005-03-20
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But there I am hoping that you'll mention Dyscalculia when you get your first Academy Award?
If in five years time, you were given a Script where you play a woman that is in a crisis as a result of a life of not being understood?
Could you bring some passion and understanding to the role?
Could you relate to this?
Perhaps the dilemma that you are currently experiencing, might in fact contribute to your future Professional Development?
Afterall, the Arts Community is all about helping people understand a world that is different from their own. Where Artists need to relate to the story that they are telling.
So perhaps this experience is actually valuable training for you?
But on the other hand, this wont be given as a Credit when applying to Performing Arts college? Though I'm a bit cynical about Perforning Arts Colleges, as I was at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts at the same time as Hugh Jackman, and he was the only one that made it internationally! Yet I was in the Visual arts dept.
But having said all of this, what might be more relevant, is that in the next few days you will have free access to an online Maths Program.
Which might really be helpful for you?
Geoff, |
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on January 17 2007 03:43 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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^Actually, it's kind of fiunny you said that, because my friend asked me to do this segment for the morning announcements and he was like, "i'm going to have my math teacher write a really hard equation on the board and you need to act counfused." All day, I was joking about how it "wouldn't take any acting", but I thought I'd have to do some. But oh my gosh, I was surprised how little acting it took. On the oone take, I was almost in tears because I just put myself in the moment.
Well, I don't have the test results yet because I got called to the psychologist's office again. She said she wanted to do a few more short tests. I did more drawing stuff and a pattern thing.
I've also gotten another call for today. Actually, I have to go to it now- bye!
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| Laura |
Posted on January 17 2007 04:01 PM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 1229
Joined: 2006-11-16
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Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on January 17 2007 09:07 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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Today I did this "planning" thing where I had to trace complext shapes without lifting my pencil and I couldn't cross any lines I had already made. I also did a listening thing.
The other day I did a pattern thing, which was hard and... more drawing and I think that was it.
Is all this extra testing a good sign?
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| Freda |
Posted on January 17 2007 09:41 PM
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Member
Location: Germany
Posts: 194
Joined: 2006-09-19
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DEpends on what the "good sign" is for- the fact that they're taking action or the fact that they need more info for a more correct diagnosis?
Either way, I think it's great that your school has finally taken action and gotten the point.  |
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| Toe_Nail |
Posted on January 17 2007 11:02 PM
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Member
Location: No value
Posts: 915
Joined: 2006-08-13
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Freda wrote:
DEpends on what the "good sign" is for- the fact that they're taking action or the fact that they need more info for a more correct diagnosis?
Either way, I think it's great that your school has finally taken action and gotten the point.
I agree, that's good news  |
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on January 18 2007 03:44 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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Yeah, i meant a good sign for diagnosis.
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on February 07 2007 12:10 AM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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Tomorrow's the day.
The day I get my results back.
I'm freaking out.
Because I'm pretty sure that the results are going to be negative. Which sucks. I know I have it. I'm positive. But they don't want me to be dyscalculic, so I'm probably not.
I trust the psychologist, but I don't trust the other people.
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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| Nicola |
Posted on February 07 2007 09:06 AM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 108
Joined: 2006-02-08
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Can you ask for a second opinion if they come back negative?
If your psychologist turns in a false result for you then he/she's negligent. Therefore it's not in his/her interest to lie, even to the school to make them feel better. And if the results therefore DO come back as positive, and you are tested dyscalculic, then your school/education authority has a duty of care to make sure you're catered for.
Whatever happens, you're still you, and I hope it goes all right. Let us know how you get on.
((hugs))
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| TheatreLvr08 |
Posted on February 07 2007 03:03 PM
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Member
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posts: 171
Joined: 2006-09-08
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I think that's what we're going to do if it comes back negative, ask for a second opinion. My mom and i are both positive I have it to some degree. My dad is kind of just coming around to the fact that there is such a disorder, but he's also supporting me.
I guess I just am afraid of it coming back negative not only because I have no explanation as to why I'm so bad at math, but also because it means starting from square one... or at least square three. We'll have to pay for more testing, a hearing, and so much other stuff. It's just so much trouble, when I know I have it.
I know, I know- "If you know you have it, why would you bother getting tested?" Because me knowing that I have it doesn't mean people will believe me. Most people don't even know about it. My one friend thought I was making it up when I told him. I may know that my arm is broken, but unless it's proven, I won't get any help, just people telling me to suck it up, it's probably just sprained and will heal in no time. My math problem is not healing.
~Rachel~
I love to act, sing, and dance. |
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