Why isnt being bad at math considered a learning disability?
106370
Good question.\n\nThese days innumeracy (being unable to do math) is treated the same way as illiteracy in schools, or at least it is suppoed to be. But I know that when I went to school I had the same experience as you. A child who couldn't read was sent to special ed/remedial reading. A child who couldn't multiply was ignored.\n\nPart of it may be because of the gender bias, but that doesn't explain it all because I was alway a boy's boy and I sucked at maths until I started college.\n\nIMO, and with litttle eidence, I htink it is because most teachers don't undertsand math themselves and as a result are bad at teaching it. This is particularly true of elementary teachers, whose grasp of math is usally worse than their grasp of science.\n\nSuch teahcers are reticient to diagnose a student as innumerate because they beolieve the child probably just can't learn because they lack the ability to explain concepts. I know that was the reason I couldn't learn math at school. As soon as I started college and had to teach myself I suddenly found I could hurl numbers around with ease... but not using any technique I had ever been taught in school.\n\nNo teacher wanted to send a child to remedial numeracy only to have the kid sent back diagnosed as A1. Far better for their careers to sweep it under the rug and hope the child would catch up with next year's teacher or that the parents would solve the probelm at home.
786657
A diagnosis of mental retardation requires that a person's IQ test below 70 points and the person must have dysfunction in at least two areas of adaptive behavior.  Adaptive behavior include things like language/communication, social skills, daily living skills etc.\nIntelligence is arguably an arbitrary social construct, but the word exists in the medical and school fields to help identify people who need extra help learning and functioning (i.e. adapting). It's equivalent to "slow".
55535
help,\n\nI'm not sure you'll find many articles out there that addresses ADD and/or learning disabilities as an inherited condition.  I've never seen any, so I can't begin to answer what the chances are for a child born to one or both parents who have suffered the same.\n\nI would say that all one can do is to pay close attention to the child's development, and to take quick action if any developmental problems present itself.  I know this isn't much help...best of luck.
574672
I have a memory learning disability that really impacts my math hard. I have working memory problems. \n\nTherefore, I work out everything on paper, with calulators, and have tons of sticky notes everywhere reminding me of stuff. I also keep two different, coordinated planners for "to do."\n\nSince I can't use memory in my head unless it is long-term, and it is not practical to memorize everything into long-term memory, I live off paper. Paper is my short-term/working memory.
305503
The term "splinter skills" actually can be applied to anyone (not just autistics) with one or two skills that are considerably above their overall performance ability.\n\nPeople with learning disabilities usually have average or higher intelligence, with difficulty with acquiring print skills, memory retrieval, and/or with perceiving the patterns in math. If they also have a skill that is significantly above their overall functioning (in areas other than in their learning disability area), then that is considered a splinter skill. For instance, they may have extreme difficulty with reading and writing (their LD area), perform with average skills in fine arts (their "expected" performance level based on their overall intelligence), and be amazing when it comes to math and scientific inquiry (their splinter skill)...a profile of LD people often found in engineering careers.
946775
=you may have ADHD.  Do you have a learning disability as well and find it hard to read and focus while in school.  Check out the link below it is loaded with information.  Good luck.
744244
NO ONE IS DUMB! So get that out of your head! The only people that are dumb are people who say they are dumb. If you are getting bad grades in the easiest subject, it may not be the easiest subject for you! Maybe other kids say its an easy subject for them, but not for you. Everybody has there own disability ex- Lets say your really good in history and not so good in math, it might be the opposite for your friend. You may even try to get a touter. If you think positive good things will come your way. Good Luck with your grades!
792726
I know there is a form of dyslexia that deals with numbers rather than letters, but I don't know the name of it.  I have the same problem.  It's annoying.  ::argh::
114832
Everyone has learning disabilities, some common enough and severe enough to have names (like Dyslexia). The question is: Do you have any? If you're still in school, the counselor can help you with an assessment to discover and treat them. There is hope!
38182
Some people are good at math, while others are better at reading. Just depends on yuor strong points. \n\nHowever, that does not mean you can never learn it. It takes practice, like everything. I am not a strong math person either, but I have made it through 3 levels of calculus in one semester. \n\nYou might ask extra help from the teacher or get a tutor. For me, practice and one on one help is what helps me. It is not something that comes natural to everyone, but once you get the hang of it, algebra is not as hard as it may seem right now.
191739
There are many kinds of disabilities. I was always too small to be good at sports, but participated at some level. Mrs. Hawkings says little Steven did not concentrate on school until he found out he had Lou Gerigh's disease(alateral scilorsis?). And there is nothing he rather do than work now. He gets to travel and is famous because of his difficulties. He has been on Star Trek and The Simpsons since he is so recognizable. \nPerhpas we all have some differences, things we are not good at and hopefully we contribute what we can and not pig out on resources.
246790
Collie's 'mental disorder' answer and 'learning disorder' are all actually 'mental disorders'. And some very highly intellectual people had a 'learning disorders' besides your husband, 3icys. \n\nTo name a FEW:\nAlbert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Gen. George Patton, John F. Kennedy, Leonardo da Vinci, Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Alexander Graham Bell, Woodrow Wilson, and Beethoven.\n\nA learning disorder is just someone that learns at a different pace than most because they see it differently than we do. Or they have a problem learning to concentrate.\n\n I believe 'we actually have the learning disorder' because A LOT of people with 'so called' learning disorders, 'were and are' high I.Q.ed or literal Geniuses!\n\nMy 8 year old grandson was recommended by the school to be placed in 'special Ed.'. The school claimed he was retarded and had attention deficit. And incapable of learning. But after being tested by real professionals, we found he was dyslexic, (like Albert Einstein and other intelligent people with learning disorders.)\n\n (They proved their ability to learn and so did my grandson)\n\n After a little over one year of private tutoring, he is now passing (18 months later) 3rd grade in school, in a regular class (not sp. ed.), with honors. (He mastered 3 years in 18 months).\n\nIt's harder for him to grasp new concepts. He has to have more one on one, but once he does get the concept, he's unbeatable .
643855
perhaps he has a learning disability.  A lot of people with a learning disability are extremely intelligent people.  I'd have him be tested.  It could do wonders.
653875
I agree(although I hate the word retard). People with a learning disability, particularly Down's Syndrome, seem to have such a sweet, uninhibited disposition about them. It's like they have never thrown up the same emotional walls as the rest of us. I take a good deal of inspiration from my dealings with them.\nBrave question by the way, nice one!
579772
Dyslexic people often have high IQ's but the brain does not work properly when decoding text or numbers.  Before dyslexia became so widely recognised there used to be a lot of stigma attached to it. Pupils who struggled with reading and spelling were written off and deemed as thick. This was the case thrity years ago when I was growing up.\n\nAccording to the dyslexia institute: Dyslexia affects all kinds of people regardless of intelligence, race or social class. The effects of dyslexia can largely be overcome by skilled specialist teaching and the use of compensatory strategies.  The earlier the intervention the better the outcome.
158324
different halves of the brain. verbal reasoning (& hence reading) is more about emotion, math is about logic. High school classes are not that demanding, so you can get good scores in both, but it is very rare for famous mathematicians to be famous writers (Lewis Carol is an exception tho :).
1158393
There is the legal word, Mentally Retarded, and when used by educators is NOT a put-down. It is written into law that way, and is used to communicate about a child's needs. It means that a child needs to practice something many times more than most kids to be able to do it well. The child must learn each skill in smaller steps, too. Knowing this helps the teachers and staff give the child the support he/she needs.\n\nWhat is horribly wrong is when the word "retarded" is used as a put-down by people who don't know any better. If you feel that your child is being teased or put down in school because he/she needs more time and support to learn each skill, talk to the teacher(s) and/or principal about it.\n\nKids are often naturally cruel. We spend lots of time trying to guide them into accepting each other's differences. Kids are teased by each other for being too thin or too fat, for having an extra fair complexion or an extra dark one, for learning extremely quick ("nerd," "geek," etc.) or for learning slower than others.\n\nSomething you may want to do is encourage the teachers to emphasize the strengths identified by your child's IEP committee when dealing with the other children's perceptions of your child. What things does your child do relatively well? How can he/she show those skills in front of the other kids?\n\nBy modeling acceptance and approval of each and every child, teachers can help the children learn how to accept each other's differences.