Have you heard of Dyscalculia?

03 Jun 2025

In the first of our series of Lived Experience Blogs from colleagues, we hear from Nick Burrows, Senior Careers Consultant.

During lockdown, whilst scrolling through social media, I came across an advert promoting an online assessment for a condition called Dyscalculia, a learning disability that makes it difficult to understand and work with numbers. Dyscalculia can also affect everyday activities such as calculating change, following flat-pack instructions, and even something as seemingly straightforward as keeping track of the order in a board game.

Until I saw that post, I had never heard of the condition, but the description struck a chord with me, so I decided to take the test. The results indicated a high likelihood that I had Dyscalculia. This gave me some reassurance that there might actually be an explanation for my lifelong struggles with numeracy, rather than simply being “not very good” at maths, as I had been told at school (usually with less tact!).

After completing the test, I was directed to a website that sold assessments and resources, which made me feel sceptical, and I began to wonder whether I had been drawn into a money-making scheme. I decided not to pursue it any further at that time, but my curiosity about the condition remained.

A few years later, during a chance conversation with a student, they shared that they had undergone an assessment through DASS for an unrelated learning disability, and had found the process extremely beneficial.

That conversation prompted me to speak with my line manager, Rosie Harmshaw and contact DASS to explore what support, if any, might be available for Dyscalculia. DASS and Rosie were incredibly supportive in arranging an assessment with an Occupational Psychologist. This resulted in a comprehensive report confirming that I did indeed have Dyscalculia. While the diagnosis itself wasn’t a surprise, it was reassuring to have a formal explanation for certain tasks and situations I had always found challenging. 

Following the assessment, I was able to discuss the report with Rosie and look at how this new information may impact on certain tasks and potential practical adjustments. DASS also introduced me to resources that have since made a significant difference in both my personal and professional life. Over the next few months, I began to feel more comfortable approaching certain scenarios that had previously been a source of apprehension.

This isn’t something I’ve spoken about widely outside of close friends and family, but given the lack of awareness around Dyscalculia in comparison to other learning disabilities, I wanted to share my experiences in the hope of helping others who may be facing similar challenges.

If anything mentioned in this post resonates with you, I would definitely encourage you to contact DASS directly, you might find guidance and resources available that you didn’t even know existed!