What is moderate intellectual disability like?

What math disability does this sound like?

• So at the end of sixth grade I was told I have a math learning disability. Im in 8th now and was never told which one so here I am, asking. So I have a horrible memory in math with formula's and divideing gosh, I have no clue how to divide what so ever. I cannot stay focused at all in math and I still sometimes have to count on my fingers. Its so embarrassing and I have to pray that she won't call on me to answer... Oh an another problem I have is adding and subtracting integers. Like -8 plus 13 I have no clue what that would be. But yeah to sum it up, what learning disability does this sound like?

• Answer:

  It sounds as if its dyscalculia, but you should really ask your parents, surely they were told exactly what your learning disability is. Dyscalculia is where a person has difficulty grasping math concepts, struggles to do multiplication, division, addition, subtraction, fractions, formulas, confuses math symbols and remembering times tables. Numbers can be reversed or transposed 519 might look like 915 or 17 looks like 71, 9 & 3 might look like an 8 etc. Having a LD is nothing to be embarrassed by, and if people are understanding & helpful, you will get on very well. Is the school providing you some supports to help you? There is a few things the teachers can do to help, such as; Have a copy of all the maths symbols and their meanings, laminate them and keep a copy for school and home. Have a copy of times tables. When doing maths use graph paper to help keep numbers inline and help you add, divide, multiply etc. Have clear step by step examples how to do addition, division etc. Use other methods of learning such as visual, auditory, calculators etc. Allow extra time to do the work Teach only one math concept at time (division, fractions etc at the same time can be confusing) and review previous lesson to be student understands what has been taught. Be creative by using scales, measuring cups etc to help teach fractions, addition etc, (I hate fractions but using measuring cups etc, I have a much better understanding). Use other methods of learning such as visual, auditory, such as calculators, abacus, blocks etc. Both my daughter and I are dyslexic, and it affected most of our learning while at school.