For some time I've known Abby has some sort of math difficulty. I spent summer-before-last reading all about the brain and figured out she has some sort of memory problem, but it kept nagging at me that she mostly has memory problems as it relates to math. In earlier grades, it hasn't mattered much - we have a cheat sheet for multiplication facts and she counts on her fingers or scratch paper. When we had to do the division book three times, I started researching. But we finished the MUS fractions book and I knew (I knew all along, really) she doesn't understand fractions and the next book, percents and decimals is the hardest MUS book so I have been in a huge quandary of how to cope with those concepts. My husband did some research and she has almost every symptom for dyscalculia. I have one dd with mild dyslexia and dysgraphia, but I never knew dyscalculia existed. When I figured out Rachel had either dyslexia or a visual processing disorder, it was 1992 and there was no help available to me. I found a book of exercises and taught her coping skills and she's doing well now. (You know it really cannot be summed up in one sentence.)
So where do I begin? Should I get her tested? Why is that important? Will insurance pay for it? Would it be helpful if I rejoined HSLDA and talked to their special needs mentors? Should I just forge ahead and use the resources I've found on dyscalculia.org? I've looked at a lot of websites, but that one seems to be the best and have the most resources. I have felt so dumb for not figuring this out sooner. I've chalked it up to being immature and thought it would eventually "click", and then thought she had some sort of memory problem but it's getting worse as we get into harder math.
I have retyped this post 3 times because I keep losing it. You are luckily getting the short version because I'm tired of redoing it!Thanks for your help!