My driving instructor told me to pull out so I did in 5 lanes of traffic. He was on the floor! That was in high school. I always have had difficulty with driving, numbers, time, etc. So happy I found this post!
Some ways discalculia has impacted my driving and some workarounds I came up with: 1) I needed extra time to learn how to drive. I didn’t get my license until I was 20. It’s ok to let yourself take the time that you need to feel safe & comfortable behind the wheel! 2) Changing lanes is incredibly stressful & difficult. When I have a turn coming up, I get in the lane I need to be in early, especially if there are few cars. I never merge into a busy lane, it’s better to have to turn around because I can’t tell how far other cars are behind me. 3) Using wide roads instead of narrow roads. Helps a LOT! Get familiar with alternate routes that feel easier to drive on. 4) Ask a passenger to keep track of your blind spots! The worst is having someone angrily honk at you and you have no idea why. 5) Allow extra time at turns. I can’t tell how fast other cars are coming towards me or how far away they are. Just wait until it’s clear! Hope this helps anyone learning how to drive!
Go karts, ATV's and small tractors gave me a great sense of spacial awareness with driving. When it's a sense of fun over a car, it's liabilities and your life, it's more daunting. Helped me get an idea of speed, and gave myself an idea of sense of space. The more you drive the more intuitive it becomes, with or without numbers.
When I figured out that I've been living with dyscalculia (I'm 58 now), I realized that's the main reason that driving stresses me out so much! I glance at the speedometer (and gas gauge) "obsessively"! -- Now my vision is getting worse! (I HATE to drive after dark.) -- I wish I didn't HAVE to drive, but I've always lived in the suburbs. It's scary. 😞
Well that explains a lot. It’s always a struggle for me to start driving. What helps is driving in the times of day when traffic is low. And living in places that have large roads.
I’m 24 years old and got diagnosed with dyscalculia when I was about 8 or 9. I got my permit when I was 17 but waited until about a year ago to get my license (after failing the driving test 3 times) and I just now got my car a week ago. I’ve been anxious about driving for so long and will still have my mom drive with me at least for now which I feel is slightly embarrassing at my age lol. When it comes to lefts and rights while driving, one thing that really helped me was when my brother told me that no matter what direction I’m going the drivers side window will always be the left. That really helped me get better at knowing which way to go when someone/navigation tells me to go left or right while driving. I would also suggest a car with a digital speedometer for people driving with dyscalculia. I know this isn’t always possible, but my current car has a digital speedometer and it’s made a huge difference. Any car I drove before getting my own did not have a digital speedometer and I always felt like I never knew exactly how fast I was going which can be slightly dangerous. However, one thing I still struggle a lot with is knowing which way to turn the wheel when in reverse, since it’s opposite. That part of it has been especially confusing for me and I have yet to find a good work around for it. It can be a real challenge driving with dyscalculia and for sure creates lots of anxiety about getting behind the wheel but like anything, it just takes practice and a lot of encouragement! Always try and reassure your daughter when she’s driving. She just needs the confidence and practice and eventually it will be like second nature.
I'm 48 and have never driven because the thought of having to mentally do all of that at speed in control of several tons of metal surrounded by impulsive morons who are on their phones scares the living crap out of me!
I'm 32 years old and I haven't driven a car yet. I just got diagnosed with Dyscalcula and Autism two weeks ago. I hope your daughter does well on the test and is able to drive.
Thank you. I hope for you that your diagnosis can lead to some understanding and answers eventually. I'll keep everyone posted on how the driving goes!
Good question! I did start collecting some tips on driving and compiled them in a blog post you may want to check out here: discoveringdyscalculia.com/blog/driving-with-dyscalculia
Here because I suspect its something I have had all of my life, along with ADHD, and may explain it taking 12 different instructors and over a decade to learn to drive. I've never parallel parked since the day of finally passing my test; have no concept of distance, and get lost all the time, even with SatNav.
I'm 65 and have had that all my life. I have rarely overtaken other cars - can't judge the distance. I can't reverse or parallel park. Back when I got my driver’s licence (16) I only had a 10 minute test and no reverse parking. My left and right is ok and definitely a bright digital dashboard helps. No tips but just perseverance and experience.
As a dyslexian and dyscalculian girl my difficulties were i couldn't recognize the left from the right and worst was that i felt extremely uncomfortable with my instructor to the point that i never told him about that so he just thought that i was dumb Also i had difficulty to count the roundabout outings He would tell take the third outing of the roundabout and i would get wrong always at counting the roundabout outings directions
Hi, im 42 years old, I was diagnosed with Dyscalculia since I was 7 years old. Truthfully, driving is not all that bad, and like all drivers, its just something that you learn with practice. I use my I phone GPS that helps with many things; first, when it gives the directions, it has the arrows to point in the direction of right or left. The left and right thing is a big problem for me, but if I’m needing directions, my GPS also shows the arrow symbols, so I kind of just ignore it when it announces on speaker to turn left or right and just look at the arrows. For the speedometer, I just need to figure out the little line that the needle needs to rest on, and since it is a common speed, I know which line 50 is at, or 30 etc so with practice, she will be fine. I think the number one thing is not plant seeds in her mind that she is going to struggle with driving, as this will give her less confidence and add to the nervousness of being a new driver. But driving becomes so repetitive that it shouldnt take her too long to remember her little tricks. The only thing is when you have someone the car giving you verbal directions lol with go left go right lol its slightly embarrassing
thanks for the tips and insights into driving as a dyscalculic adult! I think you are right, I'm seeing that the repetitive nature of driving is making it easier for her as she gets more practice and using some little tricks as you said. One of those is when I'm giving her verbal directions I point which direction when I say "left" or "right" which seems to help!
For me too i felt embarrassed when my instructor noticed i didn't know right and left difference directions and also he didn't even knew about my diagnosis of dyslexia and dyscalculian
My driving instructor told me to pull out so I did in 5 lanes of traffic. He was on the floor! That was in high school. I always have had difficulty with driving, numbers, time, etc. So happy I found this post!
Some ways discalculia has impacted my driving and some workarounds I came up with:
1) I needed extra time to learn how to drive. I didn’t get my license until I was 20. It’s ok to let yourself take the time that you need to feel safe & comfortable behind the wheel!
2) Changing lanes is incredibly stressful & difficult. When I have a turn coming up, I get in the lane I need to be in early, especially if there are few cars. I never merge into a busy lane, it’s better to have to turn around because I can’t tell how far other cars are behind me.
3) Using wide roads instead of narrow roads. Helps a LOT! Get familiar with alternate routes that feel easier to drive on.
4) Ask a passenger to keep track of your blind spots! The worst is having someone angrily honk at you and you have no idea why.
5) Allow extra time at turns. I can’t tell how fast other cars are coming towards me or how far away they are. Just wait until it’s clear!
Hope this helps anyone learning how to drive!
Go karts, ATV's and small tractors gave me a great sense of spacial awareness with driving. When it's a sense of fun over a car, it's liabilities and your life, it's more daunting.
Helped me get an idea of speed, and gave myself an idea of sense of space.
The more you drive the more intuitive it becomes, with or without numbers.
When I figured out that I've been living with dyscalculia (I'm 58 now), I realized that's the main reason that driving stresses me out so much! I glance at the speedometer (and gas gauge) "obsessively"! -- Now my vision is getting worse! (I HATE to drive after dark.) -- I wish I didn't HAVE to drive, but I've always lived in the suburbs. It's scary. 😞
Well that explains a lot. It’s always a struggle for me to start driving. What helps is driving in the times of day when traffic is low. And living in places that have large roads.
I’m 24 years old and got diagnosed with dyscalculia when I was about 8 or 9. I got my permit when I was 17 but waited until about a year ago to get my license (after failing the driving test 3 times) and I just now got my car a week ago. I’ve been anxious about driving for so long and will still have my mom drive with me at least for now which I feel is slightly embarrassing at my age lol. When it comes to lefts and rights while driving, one thing that really helped me was when my brother told me that no matter what direction I’m going the drivers side window will always be the left. That really helped me get better at knowing which way to go when someone/navigation tells me to go left or right while driving. I would also suggest a car with a digital speedometer for people driving with dyscalculia. I know this isn’t always possible, but my current car has a digital speedometer and it’s made a huge difference. Any car I drove before getting my own did not have a digital speedometer and I always felt like I never knew exactly how fast I was going which can be slightly dangerous. However, one thing I still struggle a lot with is knowing which way to turn the wheel when in reverse, since it’s opposite. That part of it has been especially confusing for me and I have yet to find a good work around for it. It can be a real challenge driving with dyscalculia and for sure creates lots of anxiety about getting behind the wheel but like anything, it just takes practice and a lot of encouragement! Always try and reassure your daughter when she’s driving. She just needs the confidence and practice and eventually it will be like second nature.
I'm 48 and have never driven because the thought of having to mentally do all of that at speed in control of several tons of metal surrounded by impulsive morons who are on their phones scares the living crap out of me!
I'm 32 years old and I haven't driven a car yet. I just got diagnosed with Dyscalcula and Autism two weeks ago. I hope your daughter does well on the test and is able to drive.
Thank you. I hope for you that your diagnosis can lead to some understanding and answers eventually. I'll keep everyone posted on how the driving goes!
Any tips on encouraging a friend with Dyscalculia on getting their drivers licence?
Good question! I did start collecting some tips on driving and compiled them in a blog post you may want to check out here: discoveringdyscalculia.com/blog/driving-with-dyscalculia
Here because I suspect its something I have had all of my life, along with ADHD, and may explain it taking 12 different instructors and over a decade to learn to drive. I've never parallel parked since the day of finally passing my test; have no concept of distance, and get lost all the time, even with SatNav.
Yeah, it's something people just don't realize is so impacted by dyscalculia. (And maybe ADHD too!)
I'm 65 and have had that all my life. I have rarely overtaken other cars - can't judge the distance. I can't reverse or parallel park. Back when I got my driver’s licence (16) I only had a 10 minute test and no reverse parking. My left and right is ok and definitely a bright digital dashboard helps. No tips but just perseverance and experience.
As a dyslexian and dyscalculian girl my difficulties were i couldn't recognize the left from the right and worst was that i felt extremely uncomfortable with my instructor to the point that i never told him about that so he just thought that i was dumb
Also i had difficulty to count the roundabout outings
He would tell take the third outing of the roundabout and i would get wrong always at counting the roundabout outings directions
Hi, im 42 years old, I was diagnosed with Dyscalculia since I was 7 years old.
Truthfully, driving is not all that bad, and like all drivers, its just something that you learn with practice. I use my I phone GPS that helps with many things; first, when it gives the directions, it has the arrows to point in the direction of right or left. The left and right thing is a big problem for me, but if I’m needing directions, my GPS also shows the arrow symbols, so I kind of just ignore it when it announces on speaker to turn left or right and just look at the arrows. For the speedometer, I just need to figure out the little line that the needle needs to rest on, and since it is a common speed, I know which line 50 is at, or 30 etc so with practice, she will be fine. I think the number one thing is not plant seeds in her mind that she is going to struggle with driving, as this will give her less confidence and add to the nervousness of being a new driver. But driving becomes so repetitive that it shouldnt take her too long to remember her little tricks. The only thing is when you have someone the car giving you verbal directions lol with go left go right lol its slightly embarrassing
thanks for the tips and insights into driving as a dyscalculic adult! I think you are right, I'm seeing that the repetitive nature of driving is making it easier for her as she gets more practice and using some little tricks as you said. One of those is when I'm giving her verbal directions I point which direction when I say "left" or "right" which seems to help!
For me too i felt embarrassed when my instructor noticed i didn't know right and left difference directions and also he didn't even knew about my diagnosis of dyslexia and dyscalculian
Can't hear a word you're saying. Sorry