What does having dyscalculia entail?
it entails having a disability to do with numbers, all kinds of math, orientation, spacial awareness, sequences, telling the time and other related things (doesn’t apply to everyone but these apply to me)
Do you have other related conditions?
I have ADHD, dyspraxia and autism
How “extreme” are your symptoms?
I would say they’re on the very severe end of the spectrum, so very extreme
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much impact does dyscalculia have on your life?
I would say 9
How does dyscalculia affect your day-to-day life?
I have difficulty with counting, anything involving numbers, any kind of math even simple addition of numbers when I am shopping, I also have difficulties telling the time, knowing how much time a certain task will take
What was it like growing up with dyscalculia?
absolutely horrible, I failed math classes multiple times, same with physics, chemistry and other math related subjects at school, I couldn’t even do simple math operations let alone complex ones, and still cannot do them
Before you were diagnosed, how did you feel about the symptoms you experienced?
I definitely knew there was something very wrong and very different going on with me
When did you realize that you had dyscalculia? How did you feel knowing that there was a word for what you had?
I think in a sense I always knew I had some form of a math disability, but I didn’t know it was an actual medical thing, suffice to say finding people who also had it and communities formed around it was great and very very helpful to my mental state
Do you find that Dyscalculia isn’t commonly known, as compared to dyslexia?
I do, I think people usually struggle a bit with math anyway, like it’s pretty common to find it hard and whatnot in school, and so if you have dyscalculia you might just be ignored because “oh a lot of people struggle with math” whereas I think dyslexia is a bit more upfront and noticeable to the general population, as well as more talked about
What math subject did you find the easiest to comprehend?
Geometry when it didn’t involve calculations
Is there anything you do that helps manage your dyscalculia?
Having a calculator on me, paying with card and not cash, generally my phone helps with apps like google maps and a calculator
Can you recall any big moments in your life that was shaped by having dyscalculia?
Every exam ever, as well as my entire school experience
Do you tell people you have dyscalculia or is that something that you hope would remain more of a secret?
I usually tell them I’m pretty open about it
Have you experienced any sort of stigma for having dyscalculia? Did that take a toll on you? How did/do you deal with it?
I wasn’t diagnosed in school but I was constantly harrassed by teachers and classmates over being absolutely horrid at even the most simple of math, got ridiculed and made about 5 private tutors leave
Is there anything that having dyscalculia has prevented you from doing that you really wish you could do?
My dream jobs are marine biologist and psychiatrist, and I can’t go into either field because of the math that exists there