I think that I might have Dyscalculia but I need to be able to prove it to my counselor. Is there any free online screenings? If there isn't, is there anyway that I can find out if I have this without too much of a costly expense? Where can I buy a test? What kind of doctor would I have to go see to be tested or screened for this disorder as well as other math disorders? How do people find out if they have this disorder? How do you prove that you have this disorder to your teachers and the school in general? Don't you need proper documentation?
Thanks for your time,
nicegirl_07 :angel:

Can't anyone say that they have this disorder?

Have one of your parents request that you be tested. If your parent requests testing, the school must, by law, test you.

tottally agree with ssborrow have your parents request to have you tested for dyselisa and by federal law they have to test you

How do they test you?

i believe i have this too, but thankfully i graduated high school about 2 years ago...although i am worred about college when am able to go...

i dont know where you can get tested, although having your parents get involved is a good idea.
i dont think very many people are away that this exists yet as it is not as common as dyslexia....but it is still a pain, i always sruggled in math classes :(

good luck to you, i wish i had more advice.

I went to a learning disorders specialist and she tested me. It was expensive, but well worth it.

I'm 50 years old and just learned something new today, and that was, that I probably have Dyscalculia and never knew it. I never could remember my multiplication table for very long, (don't know it now, lol) math was a very hard subject for me and advanced math was like French to me. If I go to buy something, I always have more then enough money to pay for it or I won't buy it, scared I won't count out enough change. But at the same time I can remember phone numbers for a long time. Thanks for your post, I am goning to check out this disorder some more now.
Mikael

I have it too, but mild, i can not remember my times table - i cant even do the 3 x table without using my fingers to add up, i can remember phone numbers and dates, but when i dial on the phone i have to do it carefully as i get the numbers the wrong way round, i have dyslexia too! I went through my college to get tested as i was having trouble with sitting exams, i was 26 at the time and thats when they discovered it, that means for 26 years i struggled and thought i was stupid and used to put myself down all the time, but i wasnt and now i have my dream job, have to use numbers alot but they are patient.

Get yourself tested, it may be alot of money but at the end of the day you will get an answer. Good luck

HOLY SNIPER! I didnt even know there was math disorder? I've struggled with math since I was in kindgarden. I just failed my college algebra class and I got so frustrated with it. Is the school required to test a student, even if its a small private college? Math is like a forgien language to me, and i can never understand it no matter how hard I try. Anyone know the symptoms or website I can go to?

We can not post web sites, i gained testing of this through my college, i talked to my tutor who put me in touch with the special needs unit who reffered me to a specialist, i was lucky because the college paid for this so i am unsure of how much it cost. I would advise you talk to your tutor or course councillor and see what they can suggest, good luck

Does anyone know if there are any books on learning math in alternative ways? I believe that learning disordered individuals are just people with different personalities and learning styles. For instance, some people learn viscerally or visually much more easily than through a dry intellectual linear approach. I seem to have this math "deficiency" but have met other non-linear thinkers who seem to have taught themselves or discovered tricks that helped them learn. As it turned out, I had no problem with abstract concepts whatsoever, but could never learn the basic math, at least the way it was presented to me.

Does anyone know if there are any books on learning math in alternative ways? I believe that learning disordered individuals are just people with different personalities and learning styles. For instance, some people learn viscerally or visually much more easily than through a dry intellectual linear approach. I seem to have this math "deficiency" but have met other non-linear thinkers who seem to have taught themselves or discovered tricks that helped them learn. As it turned out, I had no problem with abstract concepts whatsoever, but could never learn the basic math, at least the way it was presented to me.

Maybe if you tried to visualize the numbers and such it might help, It also helps to know your learning type. When I was in 1st grade, the teacher taught us the numbers on the number line by showing us a line with the numbers segmented off and we were told to count the numbers. Once we knew how to count the numbers, he would tell us what the addition side did to that number(just count that many spaces from the other number and the place you land is the sum of those 2 numbers) and then past that, it was pretty much all visual with the teachers I had. So a lot of time, learning disorders are just a case of your learning style and the way the teachers teach it. Because if you see things only in pictures, and the school system tries to teach you with linear words and ideas.. your just not going to get it. To this day, I'm very visual with my mathematics and that's the main way I can make sense of things.

Hi 'nicegirl'

Am curious as to who or what introduced you to the concept of dyscalculia and why you think that you are dyscalculic...you didn't say.

Dyscalculia is very much under-researched but it is linked to studies on Dyslexia.
Please note that the two concepts are not the same and that indeed they represent separate issues.

Your preoccupation with being tested must be commended, however, as has been stated by others, testing is the responsibility of the teacher(s)/counsellor(s) and or your parents. You are not the one to prove anything to anyone here! If your counsellors/teachers are doing their jobs, properly, then they would be sensitive to your concerns, (even possibly, before you were!).

At any rate, I very much doubt that tests are freely available online, as I believe that authentic tests are protected by copyright laws. Also any screening for Dyscalculia (I expect), would, or should also involve screening for Dyslexia.

Please note that simply doing poorly in Mathematics doesn't make a person Dyscalculic! However, if one is otherwise intelligent (as you have shown yourself to be), and seems to be battling with even the very basic of mathematical concepts (eg number/addidion/subtraction), then that's enough reason for further evaluation.

You may want to browse the net for additional readings but please guard against labelling yourself in the absence of a 'diagnosis'.

If indeed you are dyscalculic (even dyslexic), you can be taught to achieve mathematical potential, by good teaching using the appropriate methods!

I congratulate you on your initiative!
All the best and do keep us posted.