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So while helping the students I tutor with their LD final notes today, the topic of dyscalculia came up. After we discussed it at length, it occurs me to how little people know about it. As someone with dyscalculia, here are my finer points:

• I cannot compute numbers in my head aside from what we memorize: 2+2=4 etc,. When I try, it’s literally like hitting a mental roadblock. I got nothing. Have to write it down or get a calculator. Formulas and mental calculations are OUT, unless you want me to get that glazed look and start getting shifty.
• Time is dicey. I cannot mentally determine how much time it’s going to take to get somewhere, do something, or how much time has passed. I’m either late or early – RARELY on time. This is also why when someone asks my age, I typically can’t remember. I’m usually off by a year. I also have a hard time determining when something happened, e.g, “was that four years ago or five?” I estimate everything. Also, I can read a regular watch, but it takes me a few minutes to figure it out. I wear a watch, so when someone asks me the time, I usually just show it to them. Evasive measures.
• Distance is also tricky. I could not tell you if something is [this many] yards, feet, or miles.  Continue reading →