Understanding and Recognizing: Math Disabilities

[misty]

Why Math Matters
A math disability, like other learning disorders, can stand in the way of a child's potential to succeed. As with other learning problems, early recognition of a math disability is the best first step toward helping a struggling child overcome it. Even so, parents commonly dismiss math difficulty as a normal part of life, especially if they too struggled with the subject when they were young. In the minds of many, mathematics is a subject that either comes naturally to a person or remains forever out of intellectual reach; either you get it or you don't. For many students today, getting it is no longer optional.

In 1970, only nine percent of all jobs in the U.S. were considered technical. As the world's reliance on technology has grown, so too has the demand for people who can think in the abstract terms of math and science and, today, technical jobs make up nearly one-third of all employment opportunities. Schools have tried to keep pace with the demands of an increasingly competitive technological world by stiffening their mathematics requirements and invoking a system of high-stakes testing, resulting in a widening disparity between those who learn math with relative ease and those who struggle with math disabilities.

Read on:

www.dyscalculiaforum.com/readarticle.php?article_id=33

[Charlie Girl]

Unfortunately, too many professionals also want to take the easy way out. My son has the same problems with math that I had and still have. Since discovering dyscalculia, I am convinced that we suffer from that.

I have fought to get my son tested for math disabilities as he consistently scores low in certain areas of math, which is a good indicator that something is going on.

I have heard from the school that I just need to work with him more. Duh! I would if I could do it. I can't figure it out either even though I am great at accounting.

"The last straw was when I asked a counselor what tests I could have done privately to see if we could pinpoint his disability. He actually had the nerve to tell me, maybe I should just accept that he is never going to be good in math. Aargh! The kid is failing and he is far from dumb. He barely made it this year with a tutor. What is it going to be like when he is in jr high and high school?

Math isn't the great mystery of the universe but it may as well be if the ones responsible for seeing that our kids learn won't believe they really can't do it.

[misty]

I can't believe that teacher said that to you Barb!'

I feel very blessed that Shannon finally got into the Learning Support room & is getting proper help for her LD. Shes finally feeling better about her math abilities!

[lostmyshoe]

I had no problems with Reading and Language, but Math was a total nightmare for me in school, many tears shed. In my case, I was able to do okay with the basics but what I did learn I had to learn slowly, one step at a time. The teachers didn't teach that way and I got buried. I can do addition, subtraction, division, fractions, some percentage, but give me algebra, geometry or trig and you might as well drop me in the middle of the jungle. I actually remember teachers telling my parents the same thing " You might as well except that your daughter will never do real well in math".

Strangely, I have found as I got older that I actually don't mind numbers and can do okay with them. That may be because I handle the checkbook and the bills at home and I can do it at my own speed. It also doesn't involve the higher maths. I do wonder though, if I learn the algebraic formulas VERY slowly I could actually grasp it. For me part of the mental block was fear, probably from failing so much because I needed to learn numbers more slowly and wasn't given that opportunity. Even with a tutor, I still struggled. I always managed to pass but with D's. I think if I had the right kind of teacher that could have broken it down and taught me as slowly as I needed I would have done much better. I'll never forget what a struggle it was. I am so thankful my daughter doesn't struggle as much I did, but I know if she ever needs the extra help she will be able to get it.

[lillian]

My just-turned-thirteen-year-old son has all the "dys"es--dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Many dyslexics are like my son and do very well with mathematical logic but very poorly with calculations, basic operations and word problems; unfortunately, these two things balance out in school testing so that the dyslexic will score average in overall math scores and never receive the help s/he needs with basic operations, word problems and calculations. I have found that my son needs direct, one-on-one tutoring to help him with these. Drilling does not work. The classroom setting does not work. Small group settings do not work. He needs individualized, one-on-one instruction. When he gets this type of instruction, it's amazing how well he can do.

I put my son in Sylvan, and he has received 36 hours of individualized instruction. IF THEIR TESTS CAN BE TRUSTED (they use the California Achievement Test), his math scores have changed as follows:

Computation---Before tutoring he tested at 5.8. After 36 hours, he's tested at 7.9.

Concepts and Application. Before tutoring he tested at 1.5. After 36 hours, he tested at 8.1.

Total Math. Before tutoring he tested at 3.1. After 36 hours, he tested at 8.0.

It definitely should be noted that he gave up on the tests when he was originally tested and said they were just "too hard and confusing," so self confidence was a major factor in his performance. Still, I am very happy with the results, but I am even happier with the fact that he NEVER complains about going to tutoring. He even volunteered to go this summer.

I want to add, though, that I absolutely WOULD NOT put my son in Sylvan for reading. I do not recommend their reading program to remediate dyslexia, at all.

[Charlie Girl]

Thanks Lillian.

That is good to know. I have heard from other parents that they weren't happy with Sylvan, but they had sent their children primarily for help with reading.

Its good to know that they did help for math. The improvements your son made are remarkable.