Any relationship between not being good at Math and having MS?

[cgrmorris]

Curious!

[Udkas]

Hi there,
that's interesting about the maths, when I had my first neurologist he did a maths test like that one, then he asked me questions like who was our prime minister and the leader of some of our political parties etc., date of birth of our children, I am guessing this was to test my memory recall, the thing is I am REALLY BAD at maths and always have been, so I could easily fail the most easiest of maths problems and I am just as bad with politics, however my language skills are much better with me working for many years for a newspaper. B.T.W. I don't have MS and I am still crap and maths, but my recall for anything is worse when I am about to get a migraine.

[hbananas]

Math is one of the three components of the MSFC, or MS Functional Composite exam my neuro has his neuropsychologist give to the MS patients.

First, you do a 25 foot walk, and he times you, going and coming.

Then you run a 9-hole peg test with each of your hands a few times--put all 9 of the little pegs in their holes, then take them back out as fast as you can.

Then the really fun part, the PSAT (paced serial addition) test.  A voice on a CD reads single digit numbers at 3 (or two?) second intervals.  You add the number just heard to the previous number you heard and tell the doc the answer.  So you hear 3, and then 4 and tell the doc 7.  Then you hear 5 and tell the him 9.  Then you hear 6 and tell him 11.

It's hard not to add the last number you heard to the sum you just told him--you have to fish back into your memory for the previous number.  So not only do you have to add quickly, you also have to have good short-term memory.  I'm a CPA and I've missed a few.

[opie74]

I was a college math instructor for years.  I resigned to stay home with my children just before Dx.  I do, however teach adjunct classes from time to time.  I have not noticed any change in my math skills or my ability to teach.  I do notice, however, that I have a much more difficult time learning names!

[Sumanadevii]

And I am sitting right next to you....lol

[supermum_ms]

ok maybe I misunderstood the question, I was taking it as people who are not good at math get MS. If its people who get MS end up not being good at math, then it is possible to have numerical issues with MS, lets face it anything seems possible when it comes to this mysterious disease.

Cheers......JJ

PS sumanadevii, my son's a science & math freaky kid, lol he tells me i'm carp so there's no getting around that, cause its true!! lol

[Sumanadevii]

Humm, I am going to disagree.  Some with MS have cognitive issues.  Those issues can include problem solving and the ability to calculate..at least calculate quickly.  Cognitive disabilities just mean..at least to me...that the person learns different (rather than calling it a learning disability).  So, disciple is the key to overcoming it.  You have to work a hell of a lot harder than the average.  In fact, statistics say three and a times harder than the average person.  What it comes down to.... is it worth the effort?

My son today, a college graduate holding a wonderful job in a large corporation, would say yes today.  He would tell you he hated his Tiger Mother...lol...However, payback is hell.  Tiger Mother can't play the "I have MS card" with him.  I best learn a way and be on with life!!!  What goes around comes around!!!!!

[supermum_ms]

Hmmm sorry but are you serious, or having a laugh? It's so reminisant of all blondes are dumb, women can't read maps, old people are grumpy etc etc. Generalisation doesn't usually relate to reality, logically if the only people who got MS were people that were no good at math, MS would be so much easier to work out but its not that simplistic.

I think its more left brain, right brain command centres, left brain is generally the math/language centres of the brain, I say generally because there are documented exceptions. Its just more in your face obvious, when something goes wrong in the math/language centre of your brain, you notice as do other people, not so obvious when its the right brain areas that have been damaged.

I doubt MS has anything what so ever to do with what you can or can't do, so the answer is logically NO!

Cheers............JJ

[Ojibajo]

I doubt it, but maybe I will start using it as an excuse! :)

[daisy.girl]

I don't think so....I have always been very good in math. One of my best subjects!

[jensequitur]

"Doctor, will I be able to play the piano?"  Doctor: "Yes, of course."  Me: "Good, because I was never able to play it before!"

I'm not good at math, and never have been.  What I found was that I had a harder time remembering numbers.  This has gotten better - I expect it'll get worse again.