To tjhink I might have some kind of learning disability?

[Skinit]

It's Maths. I've always been awful at it. In school, I used to shake with fear when the teacher said to get maths books out of our desks.

I got a U in GCSE maths and didn't learn to tell the time till I was in my 20s.

I just get confused and mixed up when I try to work things out...I can't remember phone numbers either....

I just needed to work out what 10% of £10.00 is for a work related thing...and I can't do it.

I have nobody around to ask...can you tell me what it is and also if there is something going on here...it's a bit late for treatment I know. At 38 I've learned to cope but it is a right pain at times.

I'm not daft...I work as a freelance writer and have a good degree. But as a self employed writer, there are times when it's a real disability.

Excuse my bad spelling/grammar...I edit crap all day and can't be bothered on here!

Google Dyscalcula

10% of £10.00 is £1.00

It's £1.

You sound like you could have dyspraxia (trouble with numbers etc)

Ok, me too - shit isn't it? People are horrified when I can't even do basic maths, I find ds's yr 5 homework REALLY hard. At school I was always told off for being in bottom Maths and top English, they thought I was being deliberately difficult

Soooooooooooo, I am doing something about it ! I am taking a very basic free on line course with LearnDirect to try and build my confidence up and see if I am just really shit at maths or I was taught badly!

No, it's not dyspraxia it's Dyscalcula

Thanks people!

MoFo there's no need to be rude...I was interested as I wonder if my school days would have been easier had there been better provision then.

valium...I struggle with DDs year 2 homework...I'm dreading the years to come!

I'll have a look at LearnDirect! Thanks for the tip!

I feel for you. Some time ago I had 2 mild strokes and was unable to do any adding up/taking away for weeks. It was weird and it was horrible! You sound as though you have Dyscalcula.

Are you better now LadyThumb?

It might be worth calling a dyslexia helpline, they can be good. Dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia all look very similar to non-specialists, and they're good things to be checked out for if you are worried, because diagnosis used to be less good, so you might have been missed.

It's also possible you were badly taught and school and the fear you describe is stopping you thinking straight. I think that's quite common too. Again, you can get adult education - sometimes one-to-one that might really help and get you past your troubles. My mum tutors adults who struggle with maths and it is very, very common. It's very often not the result of a learning difficulty, but rather than people have been taught in such a way that they become scared and think maths is something they 'can't' do.

Good luck!

Yes BMF it would have. I want my wink now please.

FWIW, some specialists prefer not to diagnose 'dyscalculia' as a separate condition from dyslexia, so don't be surprised if you find help comes from dyslexia specialists in the first instance.

I was badly taught by one teacher LittleRed....

I agree with LRD. There are various reasons you struggle. Working out why could help you decide the best way forward to dealing with it.

I can't be dyslexic LRD..I'm a writer!

Dyspraxia, is not trouble with number, its lack of fine locomotive skills, balance, poor memory etc
I think 'dyscalculia is trouble with numbers

And I'm a PhD student doing English Literature. Still dyslexic.

Ah...thank you BloodyMoFo! That's healed my injured soul beatifully!

Oooh really LRD!? How do you cope with your essays?

You did a maths degree MoFo!? That sounds like HELL to me!

Skinit, also have a look at the BBC bite size web site for KS1/KS2.

There are plenty of maths games for children elsewhere on the internet too. Woodlands website is excellent:

www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/maths/

5-10 minutes a day could make a difference.