2+2=Doofus
Thanks to the lovely and talented Sister Shuriken I now have the beginnings of a clue as to how I might approach my chronic counting problem. I did a quick internet search and found a number of resources on dyscalculia, which is difficulty with a wide range of counting and arithmetic problems. Here is a list of some of the indicators:
If a person has trouble in any of the areas below, additional help may be beneficial.
*
Good at speaking, reading, and writing, but slow to develop counting and math problem-solving skills
Yep. I am a very good speaker and writer, but can't count past ten without taking my shoes off.
*
Good memory for printed words, but difficulty reading numbers, or recalling numbers in sequence
Kinda. Some sequences that are patterns, e.g., factorals, squares cubes etc., Fibonacci sequences, make perfect sense. But if you ask me to remember a random sequence of numbers, forget it.
*
Good with general math concepts, but frustrated when specific computation and organization skills need to be used.
Yepper.
*
Trouble with the concept of time-chronically late, difficulty remembering schedules, trouble with approximating how long something will take
I have trouble remembering schedules but I am obsessively early.
*
Poor sense of direction, easily disoriented and easily confused by changes in routine
Great sense of direction, but very confused by changes in routine.
*
Poor long term memory of concepts-can do math functions one day, but is unable to repeat them the next day
Kinda sorta.
*
Poor mental math ability-trouble estimating grocery costs or counting days until vacation
Not so much. And I know to the hour when I am gonna take vacation.
* Difficulty playing strategy games like chess, bridge or role-playing video games
I have tried to learn bridge many times. No way.
*
Difficulty keeping score when playing board and card games.
Only if I get caught cheating at Monopoly.
Well I am so glad I have an identifiable learning disability now. The next steps are: 1) are there drugs available for this (since the pharmaceutical drug pushers claim to have a drug for everything); can I get disability pay for it; and 3) is this a valid explanation for not having paid taxes since 1972?
Oh, one other thing. Interestingly enough, I can count and calculate in dozenal (base 12) as easily as decimal (base 10). This doesn't mean I am a genius, it means I am equally bad at both, I guess.
If a person has trouble in any of the areas below, additional help may be beneficial.
*
Good at speaking, reading, and writing, but slow to develop counting and math problem-solving skills
Yep. I am a very good speaker and writer, but can't count past ten without taking my shoes off.
*
Good memory for printed words, but difficulty reading numbers, or recalling numbers in sequence
Kinda. Some sequences that are patterns, e.g., factorals, squares cubes etc., Fibonacci sequences, make perfect sense. But if you ask me to remember a random sequence of numbers, forget it.
*
Good with general math concepts, but frustrated when specific computation and organization skills need to be used.
Yepper.
*
Trouble with the concept of time-chronically late, difficulty remembering schedules, trouble with approximating how long something will take
I have trouble remembering schedules but I am obsessively early.
*
Poor sense of direction, easily disoriented and easily confused by changes in routine
Great sense of direction, but very confused by changes in routine.
*
Poor long term memory of concepts-can do math functions one day, but is unable to repeat them the next day
Kinda sorta.
*
Poor mental math ability-trouble estimating grocery costs or counting days until vacation
Not so much. And I know to the hour when I am gonna take vacation.
* Difficulty playing strategy games like chess, bridge or role-playing video games
I have tried to learn bridge many times. No way.
*
Difficulty keeping score when playing board and card games.
Only if I get caught cheating at Monopoly.
Well I am so glad I have an identifiable learning disability now. The next steps are: 1) are there drugs available for this (since the pharmaceutical drug pushers claim to have a drug for everything); can I get disability pay for it; and 3) is this a valid explanation for not having paid taxes since 1972?
Oh, one other thing. Interestingly enough, I can count and calculate in dozenal (base 12) as easily as decimal (base 10). This doesn't mean I am a genius, it means I am equally bad at both, I guess.