Dyscalculia stamp.

A stamp made for Dyscalculia Awareness Day (March 3rd)

Yes, before you ask... I do have this.

What is dyscalculia?
Dyscalculia, known as Mathematics Disorder in the DSM-IV, is a learning disability in abstract concepts and sequencing. People with this disability are NOT slow -- in fact, the diagnostic criteria requires an overall average IQ or higher. Think of it as the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia, if you please, although that is somewhat incorrect.

Although impairment in mathematics is the hallmark feature of dyscalculia, most individuals also struggle with telling and understanding time, left/right orientation and directions, every day tasks such as handling money, and more.

It is estimated that 4-6% of the world population is dyscalculic.

Please visit Dyscalculia.org or Dyscalculiaforum.com for more information.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Being "poor at math" and having dyscalculia is NOT AT ALL the same thing. A LOT of people wrestle with algebra, trigonometry, and other advanced maths. On the other hand, while all dyscalculics vary, generally they are impaired in arithmetic (along with many other symptoms). Please realize the immense difference!

What are the symptoms?
This list is from Dyscalculia.org:

• Normal or accelerated language acquisition: verbal, reading, writing. Poetic ability. Good visual memory for the printed word. Good in the areas of science (until a level requiring higher math skills is reached), geometry (figures with logic not formulas), and creative arts.



• Difficulty with the abstract concepts of time and direction. Inability to recall schedules, and the sequences of past or future events. Unable to keep track of time. May be chronically late.



• Mistaken recollection of names. Poor name/face retrieval. Substitute names beginning with same letter.



• Inconsistent results in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Poor mental math ability. Poor with money and credit. Cannot do financial planning or budgeting. Checkbooks not balanced. Short term, not long term financial thinking. Fails to see big financial picture. May have fear of money and cash transactions. May be unable to mentally figure change due back, the amounts to pay for tips, taxes, etc.



• When writing, reading and recalling numbers, these common mistakes occur: number additions, substitutions, transpositions, omissions, and reversals.



• Inability to grasp and remember math concepts, rules, formulas, sequence (order of operations), and basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts.



• Poor long term memory (retention & retrieval) of concept mastery- may be able to perform math operations one day, but draw a blank the next! May be able to do book work but fails all tests and quizzes.



• May be unable to comprehend or "picture" mechanical processes. Lacks "big picture/ whole picture" thinking. Poor ability to "visualize or picture" the location of the numbers on the face of a clock, the geographical locations of states, countries, oceans, streets, etc.



• Poor memory for the "layout" of things. Gets lost or disoriented easily. May have a poor sense of direction, may lose things often, and seem absent minded. (Remember the absent minded professor?)



• May have difficulty grasping concepts of formal music education. Difficulty sight-reading music, learning fingering to play an instrument, etc.



• May have poor athletic coordination, difficulty keeping up with rapidly changing physical directions like in aerobic, dance, and exercise classes. Difficulty remembering dance step sequences, rules for playing sports.



• Difficulty keeping score during games, or difficulty remembering how to keep score in games, like bowling, etc. Often loses track of whose turn it is during games, like cards and board games. Limited strategic planning ability for games, like chess.