How to be diagnosed with dyscalculia?

Are you tired of struggling with numbers? Do mathematical problems make your head spin, causing a sense of despair and helplessness? Do you feel like an alien in math class or when dealing with basic calculations? If so, there is a possibility that you may have dyscalculia. But what exactly is this condition and how can it be diagnosed? In this article, we will explore different ways to get tested for dyscalculia.

What is Dyscalculia?

Dyscalculia refers to the difficulty in learning and processing mathematical concepts despite being taught adequately. It affects about 5-10% of the population and is often misunderstood as laziness or lack of effort. Dyscalculics struggle with fundamental concepts such as calculating time, estimating distances, numbers manipulation, etc.

The symptoms

The symptoms of dyscalculia vary depending on age group but typically include:

  • Trouble memorizing maths formulas
  • Confusing operation signs e.g adding instead of subtracting
  • Difficulty understanding money concepts
  • Struggles reading clocks
  • Getting lost frequently even in familiar areas

Note: These are only some examples as the severity levels might differ from person to person.

Ruling out the factors

Before jumping into diagnosing one requires ample caution because other factors could affect cognitive performance leading doctors wrongly diagnose them too soon! Some specific conditions must rule out before confirming that they have dyscalculia:

1) Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD): Children suffering from ADHD tend to zone-out easily which leads to careless mistakes while solving math-related problems. This misconception leads many clinicians scratching their heads whilst trying further diagnosis steps!
2) Vision Problems: Sometimes visual impairments pose difficulties seeing aspects like grids clearly which causes errors solving mathematics questions.
3) Memory Problems: Memory impairment usually causes individuals not able memorize necessary information required during tests, this leads to underperformance by no any means dyscalculia.
4) Anxiety and Depression: Feelings of anxiety and depression may lead to cognitive problems that diminish mental functions such as memory, focus or decision making.

Now let’s check out the ways one can be diagnosed with dyscalculia:

How Can You Get Diagnosed With Dyscalculia?

Self-assessment

Before going through professional diagnosis it’s recommended doing a self-evaluation test which helps in providing baseline prediction although not perfect but something is better than nothing!

Some common online tests include:
– Math-U-See game
– MRI brain mapping
These tests are just guiding factors for further consideration. It’s always wise seeking help from medically certified institutions before drawing conclusions.

Visiting Professionals

Going through professional diagnosis ensures proper care and guidance! Seeking specialists knowledge in diagnosing dyscalculia is a good option so that you get an exclusive road map tailored uniquely towards your needs!

Pediatricians usually start the process after noticing possible symptoms shown by children. However, if symptoms persist even when they grow up, visiting Clinicians accepting queries on neurodevelopment disorders could potentially accelerate things getting diagnosed properly. Usually person consulting regarding underlying conditions such as ADHD consult Neurologists/ Clinical Psychologists specialized in child/ adult neuropsychologist depending upon age/gender-related cases.

School Accommodations

Consulting teachers/school organizations is also useful where working closely with special educators who will accommodate teaching methods to make learning manageable despite identifying/diagnosing specific learning difficulties like dyslexia or dysgraphia thereby helping students succeed without stress.

Final Words

It is important to remember that having dyscalculia does not mean being less intelligent! Receiving acknowledgment at the earliest stages itself benefits individuals causing minuscule frustrations whilst engaging in maths concepts daily – regardless of their careers starting from carpentry to engineering anyone can seek assistance whenever required!

Hence, If anyone suspects that they or someone close to them might have dyscalculia, don’t hesitate to research the ways of identifying and accommodating such conditions. Remember early identification cuts issues from its roots!

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