Dyscalculia

If numbers have always felt like they’re written in a foreign language, or if you’ve ever stared at an analogue clock and genuinely had no idea what time it was showing, you might be familiar with dyscalculia.

Dyscalculia is sometimes called “maths dyslexia,” though that’s not quite right — they’re different things. But like dyslexia, it’s about your brain processing certain types of information in its own unique way.

Here’s what it might feel like if you’re dyscalculic:

• Analogue clocks are basically decoration — digital all the way
• Times tables feel like they were designed to torture you specifically
• You can never quite remember which direction numbers go (is 23 bigger than 32?)
• Estimating how long something will take or how far away something is? Good luck with that
• Mental maths feels like trying to do gymnastics in your head
• You might panic a bit when someone asks you to split a bill

And here’s what’s really important to understand — this has absolutely nothing to do with how smart you are. You might be brilliant at reading, amazing at art, fantastic with people, or incredible at problem-solving in non-numerical ways. Dyscalculia is just about how your particular brain handles numbers and mathematical concepts.

The frustrating thing is that dyscalculia often flies under the radar, especially for adults who’ve spent years thinking they’re just “bad at maths.” But once you know what you’re dealing with, you can stop beating yourself up and start finding ways that actually work for your brain.

Calculators exist for a reason. Digital clocks are perfectly fine. And there’s no shame in taking your time with numbers or asking for help when you need it.