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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this my dyscalculia or am I being a d*ck?

75 replies

Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2019 19:01

Trying to arrange some holiday activities for my dd for the following weeks of the school hols a)so she's not bored and b)so I can go to work.
I phone up to book and the woman on the other end of the phone takes my details (all well and good) but then when she checks my mob phone no it all goes t*ts up!
And it was all in the way I say my number and the pauses inbetween. She was effectively saying the same number but to me it sounded totally wrong!! And yet she was probably saying exactly the same number! I got so exasperated I had to hand phone to dh. I feel like such a loser in life! What is wrong with me?! Anyone?!
Generally I'm a fully functioning adult but numbers and maths really make me feel ill!🤢

OP posts:
HeadintheiClouds · 13/08/2019 19:03

Calling out individual numbers isn’t doing maths, anymore than spelling out a word is reading...

Original poster
Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2019 19:06

You have a point but numbers stress me out and if they don't sound like the sequence I've just read out it only causes more stress! Maybe there are bigger issues at work here...Confused

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 13/08/2019 19:06

It sometimes throws me if they read it off in a funny way.

Like I'd say 01565 853 654.

Dh says 01 56 58 53 65 4.

(totally made up numbers BTW.)

Original poster
Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2019 19:07

Thanks, Clash! That was totally what was hurting my brain! It sounded like she'd got it wrong! But she was simply reading it differently to me.

OP posts:
Twickerhun · 13/08/2019 19:09

Yes I get that but I always read the number straight back to the person to get them to check against what they just recorded.

DoYouRememberTheInnMiranda · 13/08/2019 19:09

It's hard to tell if you're being unreasonable, but I think it's more common than you fear to not be able to recognise (quickly) when someone splits a number differently to you.

You would be unreasonable to be annoyed with them for doing so, as we all see numbers in different ways I guess depending on background, patterns in the number, etc. But not unreasonable to get confused and ask someone else for their help - doesn't seem to have caused DH or the person on the phone too much trouble, so it's fine.

It's much less of a big deal than you fear!

DontFundHate · 13/08/2019 19:11

Yes I get this even though I like maths. Try writing your number down then as they read it back you can follow it along

ScreamingValenta · 13/08/2019 19:11

Yes, I get this. I'm not brilliant with numbers - I often transpose them by mistake, or miss a 'decade' out when I'm adding in my head. I don't think I have dyscalculia but I can't see numbers in my head in the same way that I can see words.

altiara · 13/08/2019 19:13

I get that when someone repeats my mobile number back to me as they pause in different places and my brain literally shuts down! I’m don’t have dyscalculia and was always very good at numbers and maths at school (and did A-level maths). You just have to train yourself to say your number and pause it different places so it’s not a shock when someone else does it, or always have a pen and paper to hand. You’re not a dick!

PettyContractor · 13/08/2019 19:15

If they put different pauses in it does make it confusing. You remember your number in chunks, their chunks don't match yours.

BrylcreamBeret · 13/08/2019 19:16

Not just you op When giving my phone number I give it as '044 32 352 856' (for a landline ofc) and the person taking it down always reads it back in threes :s then I get lost and quit Grin

Original poster
Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2019 19:16

I wasn't annoyed with anyone, just frustrated with myself for being such a flipping dimwit when it comes to numbers! And could tell dh was thinking "what IS her problem?!" sigh

OP posts:
Bobbindale · 13/08/2019 19:16

I am exactly the same and really wish I had been tested for discalculia when I was younger. If I pause in the wrong place when giving my number I completely forget the whole thing! I once did this when leaving an answer phone message for my bank and got in such a flap I just started shouting out random numbers before hanging up Confused. You have all my sympathy!

Moonshake · 13/08/2019 19:17

I don't have dyscalculia, in fact I'm good at maths, but I can't read out a long number to save my life. And I have big issues taking phone messages, especially when people start spelling stuff out or reeling off phone numbers. I think it's something to do with auditory processing or working memory but not sure what...

trinity0097 · 13/08/2019 19:18

Write down your number, so when they read it back you can check against your written down version, run your finger along the list.

Original poster
Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2019 19:19

Thanks, folks, I'm feeling like less of a loony toon already! It just stressed me out and I've never experienced that before. I also can't do the scoring at football matches etc and, again, people look at me like I've a chicken on my head Confused

OP posts:
Reallybadidea · 13/08/2019 19:19

There's a Michael Mcintyre sketch about exactly this m.youtube.com/watch?v=3TfKSS8T5WM

It's not just you!

KnitFastDieWarm · 13/08/2019 19:20

I have the same problem with number sequences and I have diagnosed dyscalculia. Not being able to do maths is just a small part of it.

Moonshake · 13/08/2019 19:25

If someone reads out my phone number to check it's correct, I just say yes because I'm too embarrassed to make them read it out r e a l l y s l o w l y Blush

Original poster
Yerroblemom1923 · 13/08/2019 19:26

Reallybadidea I love that! Thank you!

OP posts:
Dollywilde · 13/08/2019 19:30

I’m really good at maths so don’t think I have dyscalculia, however I’m an audio person not a visual one. So imagine this:

A person gives you a number to remember.
Do you a) picture it in your head or b) repeat it by sound?

I can’t picture a number to save my life but the cadence of one is how I remember it, with emphasis etc

RubyRubyRubyRubyAaaaah · 13/08/2019 19:44

I got in the habit of reading numbers out in pairs, it’s a bit odd but it makes more sense as it’s easier to understand.
So if I read my credit card number 5544 5421... I say fifty-five, forty-four, fifty-four, twenty-one

ElizaDee · 13/08/2019 20:30

YANBU.

Telephone numbers should be

0208 123 4567
07957 123 456

Anything else, just no.

MrsLinManuelMiranda · 13/08/2019 20:37

I always give my number out as 077 123 45678. If the person I am telling repeats it as 07 71 23 45 67 8, or any other combinations I get completely flummoxed and have to repeat it again from the beginning. My landline however I would give out as 01234 567 890. Just habit I assume.

LadyRannaldini · 13/08/2019 20:39

I believe that people who take phone numbers over the phone are taught to group the digits in a certain way and if it's not your way then your number can sound quite different! Don't worry, I've had the same problem and I certainly don't have dyscalculia, I'm a former Head of Mathematics!
On a slightly different tack, can I ask people not to trivialise Mathematics, you wouldn't be joking if your reading were a problem! I used to get very annoyed at mainly mothers who would cheerfully laugh off their child's problems with Mathematics, Oh I was useless too, yet get their knickers in a real twist if their sprog was on a lower colour of reading book. It's an attitude that rubs off on children.

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