Does anyone else have trouble with Maths post stroke?
Anonymouson May 5, 2015
26 ResponsesI have a lot of trouble math problem solving. I can add up but can't subtract and I just go blank when I have to math problem solve.
26 Responses
Having difficulty with maths can be an issue after stroke and it is called acalculia. There may also be difficulties with your attention, concentration and memory so having a screen with an occupational therapist, speech pathologist or neuropsychologist may be useful (if you haven’t already) so they can also suggest strategies and work on this with you if it is a goal. Sometimes these difficulties can be missed in hospital if you haven’t been screened thoroughly.
You can also find some useful information and tips here:
http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/acalculia
Dyscalculia is a learning difficulty and different in the cause to acalculia but you may find this website helpful:
After my strokes I could not add or count from ten backwards. I am still hopeless but it slowly improved thank goodness for calculators.
I myself resist using a calculator unless it is for something really important. I would suggest practice over and over by starting at a very easy level and slowly build up as you become faster and more confident
I have experienced this and as a researcher/developer for the space program it has been extremely frustrating. I live with the hope that if I persevere it will improve.
Since my stroke 14 years ago (I am now 55) one of the problems I have is doing simple maths, because I look okay and don't have any obvious disability many people including health professionals will often say to me "you have fully recovered", they don't see me when I am using my fingers to count to do basic maths or when I am having word finding difficulties.
Hi. I had a stroke 2 years ago. From day 2 in hospital I worked out I had lost my maths skills. I would look at a division and have no idea how to solve it. While I have recovered well and am back at work functioning at a reasonably high level I still find I can't undertake some of the simplest maths problems. When placed under pressure it is worse with my brain almost feeling like it panics and I can't think straight. I would love some advice on where I can go to get help to improve this.
I have been attending a healthy minds program and it has really improved my maths. We just do a full sheet of fairly easy mix of all, even though they are simple I have found over the weeks I am getting more confident and a lot faster. Check if your local hospital offers this program. I think there is something similar on line.What about Luminosity On line heard that is good.
I had my stroke July 2010 and thank heavens my maths hasn't been a huge problem,although I sometimes have complete blanks when doing some adding up or similar. I have found the on-line Lumosity a very good tool to practice with. They have all levels and speeds, so practice, practice and more practice is surely the answer, but try not to get too despondent with your progress. A little bit at a time is always a good approach. GOOD LUCK.
I started doing brain training on my nephew's DS following my stroke in 2013. I have since bought an iPad and use an app called Lumosity - I find the maths games make me start to panic a bit, but I persevere with it!
I had a stroke almost 3 years ago and I found the old sayings like "use it or lose it'' and ''practise practise practise'' are the best bits of advise I found when it came to issues I had with maths (or my braid, and body in general)
Well put. I have had the same problem and find that practice, while frustrating at times, gives the best results.
Dad definately had issues with maths, especially money equations. Maybe that also had something to identifying notes.
I had trouble for a month or two but gradually my problem solving all came back .
After reading through the comments below it's been somewhat of a relief as I thought it was only an issue for me. Again I too appear to have no obvious visual effects from my stroke but simple maths & maths problems are now difficult. Is it too late to start brain training 5 years post stroke?
Hi Chrissie,
It's not to late to start using brain training exercises, as pointed out things like Lumosity help and the NSF Strokeline will have other helpful ideas, I think treating the brain like another muscle that needs exercise is the best way to go.
Hi Chrissie,
Brenda is so right, it is never too late to start excercising the brain. AS I said previously Lumosity is my big saviour. Just go to lumosity.com and subscribe. You can pay but you dont have to and just work at your own pace. I found I still keep improving.
For some variety what about sudoku, they are also good for some time out and great for concentration. But yes never too late. Also there are books of all levels for kids available, they may also help.
All the best gokdysdaughter
Since my TIA I have found that some of my quick mental arithmetic calculations are much harder. Happy with adding and subtracting but division and multiplying seems to have gone out the window. Luminosity was recommended to me as well and I love it. There are mental arithmetic games on it which I do most days and I am definitely improving. I found it was really worth paying the extra to see how you are progressing and having the games tailored to what you need. However, you can do extra games other than those they set for you each day - and they are fun ... most of them
Well done Dawn, practice, practice and more practice I find it seems to be the key to improving. Having said that it is easy when I don't have to go to work or cant go to work because as a lot of people on enableme say, "I look OK or I am healed or have recovered well" but these people who make these statements don't walk in our shoes I too paid for Lumosity and find it invaluable as a learning tool or aid.
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For maths issues as well as other issues to do with brain functions for example, vision, memory and etc I have found the following site very useful, Brain HQ. It is backed by research and writer N Doidge cites it in his recent books on Brain Plasticity.
it has free as well as pay for exercises.
i too panic when I am having to do sums in my head when shopping for example. The " do I have enough in my wallet to buy these items" causes anxiety as the answer of addition is not forthcoming. I have resorted to using calculator on my phone and that helps ease the panic. My stroke of July 2015 left me with peripheral blindness. I wear a badge with " I Have Low Vision" and use a white cane. Both these I find help shop assistants and other shoppers be very helpful as to look at me I have no obvious impairment.
I have problem with my speech including maths
End of July 2019 changed my life. Thought I was doing well until the lovely speech people did a few tests on me and I found I couldn’t add up or retain information I read, I also recognised pictures but didn’t know their name. Shocked me, Saddened me, but at least I know and aim to improve.
Hi Caz, it is so hard to be confronted with that sort of information, I know it was for me and it took me a while to adjust to what worked for me. Well done on your determination and aim to keep improving.
I had a massive stroke 14 months ago, whilst in hospital the physio staff gave me work charts to do, when I was finally allowed home I was given more work charts to reteach me to talk, read, count etc., I found these helpful and my husband would make me do them with him once or twice a day, I also found getting onto my iPad and doing memory games was a great help.
i still have some trouble and take alittle bit longer yo work things out, at first my husband and friends would answer for me but I told them I had to do it, they now sit back and if they see I am getting agitated they will help me.
My Dad was an Engineer in multiple fields. He has lost his maths ability almost completely. Some basic maths is coming back very slowly. I think it's been harder on me than him, because, fortunately, he doesn't deem to recognise the loss.
Thank you for sharing, everyone. I noticed that my memory (short-term) improves by playing Luminosity (free on-line brain games) and watching tv crime shows as I have to follow the plot and various characters. Also, on-line chess - improves concentration, planning and reasoning.
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