What Is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia refers to a wide range of lifelong learning disabilities involving math. Listen to Dr. Horowitz talk about dyscalculia and the different elements of dyscalculia.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities' (NCLD) mission is to ensure success for all individuals with learning disabilities in school, at work and in life.

[LdOrg]

NCLD has developed the LD Checklist: Recognize & Respond tool to help spot the potential signs of LD. Take the first step here: ncld.co/LDRR. #Check4LD

[adorebecka]

what's hard about having dyscalculia isn't the fact that i can't do math to save my life but that no one knows that it's a diagnose that exists so people think i'm just being dumb or lazy.

[krystamonique]

I always thought I was an idiot bc i could count back change, read a clock, understand left and right, do simple math in my head. I just found out today that I will have to test for dyscalculia to help me through college courses like calculus 1 through 3. It is harder for me, but nothing is impossible. If i can do it, anyone can do it!

[kimcooksey]

I have Dyscalculia and it effects me in my job.I work in retail and I hate when customers give me more change after I've already given them change and then I have to use mental math.Most of the time (especially when the store is busy) I can't seem to figure out the new change amount.I get so embarrassed and some customers make comments, mean comments.I am good at my job and like it but being on register scares me.

[marielle]

almost cried reading the comment section.... its not just me struggling...

[ComfyChaos]

This video and its comments section has me in tears. EVERYTHING resonates with me and explains so much. As a child, I had no difficulties with language. I learned to read at 2 years old, and by the time I entered kindergarten at 4, I knew my alphabet and could read/write my name, days of the week, simple sentences, etc.


But numbers and math...they never made *sense* to me like they did everyone else. Learning arithmetic throughout elementary school was a NIGHTMARE. My parents struggled to help me with math homework because I just couldn't *grasp* any of the numerical concepts. The only way I was able to learn multiplication was by memorizing the tables (I had a good memory). However, I couldn't do mental math like others. I was still counting on my fingers at 14 in my pre-algebra class, and I didn't understand how to read an analog clock until I was 12.


It's a relief to know that I'm not alone, but it breaks my heart to see so many of us were called stupid and dumb when in reality, we weren't.

[samira_danya]

I always thought I was an idiot...

I'm in 7th grade and can't do much math over a 3rd grade level. I can only understand the simple stuff...like the basics. This helped. Thank you.

[bbmeesci]

I'm 30 years old doing a science degree, and Its the math component that affects me the most.

[theJellyjoker]

When I was a child (back in the early 80's) I was diagnosed with "learning disabilities", they never gave anything specific. Looking back at my life I can safely say it's Dyscalculia because I have had and continue to have difficulties in many of the areas outlined in the video. When I was in school mental math was stressed and I had many calculators taken away from me (and never given back the damn thieves). The teachers would always say something along the lines of "what would you do if you didn't have a calculator?". I would tell them that I always plan to have one with me and to this day I carry one at all times (some of the reasons I love smartphones is the calculator, calendar, clock, and GPS apps).

[dianemoore]

I grew up with undiagnosed ADHD and Dyscalculia. I only found out that I have it when one of my children was diagnosed with it. As I was filling in the forms for him at the Neurologist's office, I recognized all of the symptoms. I cried with relief when I realized I have it. All during my childhood years I was told almost daily that I was lazy, stupid, and just didn't WANT to learn. I had to stay after school for extra help with Math, go to summer school every year, and I still couldn't understand it. I hated school because of it. I had countless sleepless nights dreading the following day at school. I used to feel sick every morning before school, because I couldn't do my Math homework. I felt so inferior to my classmates. I thought about suicide so many times. I was picked on at school, mocked and ridiculed. I only had a few friends in my school years. My parents used to get so mad at me for not "doing my best" at school. I wanted to become a veterinarian or Pediatrician and couldn't finish high school because of the damn Math. This evil learning disability destroyed my childhood, and my life. I still struggle socially. I find it hard to mix with people at times, because I still feel inferior. Anytime numbers come up, I panic inside. I have to use my tip calculator in my phone, which saves me. My GPS in my car has given me the freedom to drive to wherever I like. My husband still refuses to believe I have this disability.

[cat]

I am in a community college and I have to tell you, the colleges don't like giving accommodations to people with learning disabilities. They will drag their feet on this issue. If you have Dyscalculia you have the right to these accomodations, and they can include the right to a four function calculator during class or testing time, extended testing time (time and a half or double time), the right for a distraction free environment, and the right to use basic graphs and color charts as needed.

[GrantTarredus]

I’ve been diagnosed with dyscalculia twice, and the most difficult part of it for me is so extreme that I’m almost hesitant to tell you because it sounds beyond belief. I have more incredible trouble with spatial orientation than I can describe. I’m 61 and I’ve lived in the same small town I was born in all of my life, but I get lost in it as easily as I would if you dropped me off in a metropolis I’d never seen, so for me the invention of GPS navigators has been nothing less than life changing.

[v.m.]

I married a guy who is brilliant in math. He has a hard time writing and spelling. Perfect union! We worked together for many years and now we are both more experienced with math and writing. A great deal of overcoming a learning difficulty is gaining loads of experience.

[hgaillard]

I won the LD jackpot
Dyscalculia
Dyslexia
Severe ADHD
Education in the 60's and 70's was such a joy. Every report card said I was not living up to my potential. My teachers came out of the "Teach by humiliation" school of teaching. If we humiliate the student enough in front of their peers they will study harder. I was bullied by the teachers along with the students.
My father was a mathematical genius and could not comprehend my total inability to do math.
Adulting is no joy either. Thank the Goddess for Tip Apps, Sale % Apps, and calculators on our phones.

[nicorizzo]

I was just told I had "difficulties with math" growing up but wasn't officially diagnosed dyscalculic until last year. Thankfully that diagnosis allowed me to not have to take a math class for my degree.

[brookdamm]

sped teacher here!!! that's for this!! I use your videos to educate my parents about their children's disabilities ❤️

[the.daisy.horror]

I Googled why I can't understand math and Dyscalculia came up. Everything then made sense. I talked to my mom and she also has this so that's just great 😭

[evasilvestri]

I'm just reading the comments and even though this youtube video was posted over five years ago, it still makes me feel so good that I'm not the only one struggling with this!! It's reasuring to know that somewhere out I've got a dyscalculia family :)

[mimiraven]

For me, as an early educator, this is a great help to know the difference between dyslexia and dyscalculia...

[marianne]

I've only been diagnosed with dyscalculia in my 40's it explains so much about my early life and my insecurities and always feeling 'stupid'. School was hell. I was labeled stupid and dumb, my fourth grade teacher told my parents "She will probably get a job when she's an adult, she has a nice smile". My parent thought I was lazy. My grade 6 teacher in 1986 used to stand me up in front of the class to make me do maths problems on the blackboard, saying I could not sit down until I'd finished showing the class, I'd just stand there frozen and mute, humiliated and trying not to cry....he did it because he thought it was funny. Mr MacDowel I STILL HATE YOU. My insecurities have plagued me though out my life and held me back. I still can't remember my times tables, numbers make no sense to me, they jumble up and have no 'meaning' I can grasp onto. I'm fine with everyday life and simple calculations if I'm not stressed/under pressure and I still secretly count on my fingers sometimes. It's so good to read all these comments and know I wasn't stupid all those years and I'm not alone and we are ok.