What Is This Illness Call?

[newbie99]

I recently can't do basic additions...
I am not sure why this has happened as I was going through some maths homework with children and I was convinced that the two numbers I added together was right.
Basically my mind tells me that the 15 + 40 = 45. Similarly for other additions as well.
I am quite concern what this really means.. is there an illness that describe this so I could look up?

[RATTER15]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyscalculia

[mikey4444]

Everybody makes mistakes !

[Barsel]

If this is something that has happened recently and it's happening a lot, I would go to see your GP if I were you. You have said this happens with other additions. Is the problem you have confined to just numbers?

[Sqad]

I am not sure that there is a specific name for this, but even if the above link is informative, it is a word that is hardly ever used...at least, I have never heard of it.
However it comes under the general heading of aphasia, of which there are many subdivisions and is not uncommon following a stroke.
If you ar posting on your own behalf, are you suffering from any underlying disorder?

[newbie99]

Thank you I will look up the wiki link.
To be honest I am very upset about this and I don't believe I have any underlying health problems. I know I feel stressful due to my previous job.

The problem is that it is not that I can't do the maths, there seems to be an illusion that my brain or mind tells me the incorrect answer is a correct answer. I only found this out when I shown my maths workings to my friend and he pointed out that the two numbers I have added is the error.
I was shocked to find this out and following this I inspected my other maths and asked the friend to check it out. And I made the same mistake. When the mistake was pointed out to me I couldn't understand why I made the same mistake in the same steps for other calculations.

It is difficult to accept this problem as I am in a technical job.

[NoMercy]

Hows your sleep pattern and energy levels? Any lapses in memory or concentrations?

Any physical symptoms to speak of?

[jno]

what happens when you check your work over without your friend's help - do you still make the same error?

[woofgang]

sqad, you may not have heard the term dyscalculia but it is in general use in the treatment of strokes and head injuries and also in child development. It differs from dysphasia in that it only affects calculations.
I am not sure though that the belief that an erroneous answer is right is actually dyscalculia. My best guess would be an effect of stress. What happens if you do the sums using matchsticks or counters?

[Old_Geezer]

When it happens to me I put it down to the inevitable getting old & daft. If I'm in a more generous mood with myself I blame it on lack of sleep. When I was younger I needed 7.5 to 8 hours. Now-a-days my mind/body only allows me 5 to 6. No wonder everything needs triple checks and I'm getting more irritable with things/life.

[Old_Geezer]

I'd also say that in my experience, these mental arithmetic things (like many other learnt activities/processes) are done by "sub-routines" (for want of a better phrase) in the subconscious. You don't agonise over working the basics out, you expect your mind to get it right and pass the answer to you. In my experience, as one ages, these "sub-routines" can get things wrong. Can be most disconcerting to the conscious you.

[chrissa1]

I know that this has helped many people with Dyscalculia.

https://www.conquermaths.com/

[bednobs]

dementia?

[RATTER15]

I have dyscalculia, it is quite common in people with dyslexia. I just have a general confusion of numbers and a kind of number blindness where the numbers that I require in my head cannot be found or imagined. however it rarely has a serious affect on me or my life, more of an inconvenience.

[Peter Pedant]

yeah the doctors have latin and greek names for most things - but a label DOESN'T mean you have a disease

(I have terrible difficulty naming things worse under stress including saying to a police officer - "I cant remember what my name is" - nominal dysphasia - but hell I just really cant name things and the rest of me is OK)

Sqad obviously bogged off during his neurology lectures:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerstmann_syndrome
Queens Square Hospital had Very hard Neurology Lectures ( free ) on saturday mornings where medical students were roasted and juniors eaten alive by various luminaries - and this came up one rainy day

[no you certainly do NOT have G syndrome]
a lot of people cant calculate
The old shop assistant method of giving change and 'counting up' was designed to take this in account

you dont have a disease
you are like the rest of us - good at some things and not good at others

[Peter Pedant]

remember Einstein wasnt that good at math
when they realised he was 'right' they gave him a good mathematician to get his equations right ( Bose )

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyendra_Nath_Bose

(odd that he should have a 'feel' for the right thing and the other physicists did a Eliza Doolittle routine of 'by Jove, he's got it!")

[Mamyalynne]

Newbie, the only real reason to mention this to a Doctor would be if it is a recent development and is affecting your day to day life.

Otherwise follow some of the good advice given.