A member of the band U2 has spoken about his rare health condition that has resulted in his inability to count numbers. Larry Mullen Jr has shared details about his recent diagnosis of dyscalculia, a condition often associated with dyslexia.
The British Dyslexia Association describes dyscalculia as a “specific and persistent difficulty in understanding numbers which can lead to a diverse range of difficulties with mathematics.”
Unlike dyslexia, dyscalculia can develop at any age and is not linked to a single ability. It is also notably rare, affecting only about six percent of the population.
Discussing the daily challenges he encounters, Mullen Jr told Radio Times: “I’ve always known that there’s something not particularly right with the way that I deal with numbers. I’m numerically challenged. And I realised recently that I have dyscalculia… so I can’t add, I can’t count.”
“I had to find ways of doing this, and counting bars is like climbing Everest. And when people watch me play sometimes, they say, ‘You look pained’. I am pained because I’m trying to count the bars.”
Mullen Jr has gone on to write and produce a film titled Left Behind, which focuses on the subject of dyslexia.
The movie depicts the journey of five mothers striving to create a state-run school dedicated to children with dyslexia.
Scheduled for release in 2025, the film aims to bring attention to the condition in the coming months and years.
“Making the music through the eyes of my dyslexic son felt personal and visceral,” the U2 drummer explained.
Research into dyscalculia remains limited and is considered to be approximately 30 years behind studies on dyslexia.
The Dyslexia Association explains: “It is thought that the lack of number sense that is often common to people with dyscalculia is connected to the function of the left intraparietal sulcus which deals with numbers, and the front lobe, which deals with reasoning. It can therefore be hereditary but also connected to certain developmental conditions like Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
“An estimated 25 percent of people have maths learning difficulties which can be caused either by other neurodiverse conditions such as dyslexia or external issues such as a traumatic learning experience related to maths or school absence etc.”
The website further notes that 60 percent of those with dyslexia may also experience difficulties with mathematics.