U2 star diagnosed with rare condition after fans said he ‘looked pained’ on stage – signs you must not ignore

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THE drummer of rock band, U2, has revealed he has recently been diagnosed with a rare condition.

Larry Mullen Jnr, 63, has broken his silence to explain why fans have spotted the band member looking “pained” when performing on stage.

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Larry Mullen Jr. is best known for being the acoustic drummer for the rock band U2Credit: Getty
Mullen shared how he was only diagnosed with the condition recently

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Mullen shared how he was only diagnosed with the condition recentlyCredit: Getty – Contributor

Mullen described how it has made “counting bars” comparable to “climbing Everest” in a recent interview.

He told Times Radio how the learning disability, dyscalculia, impacts how he deals with numbers.

Mullen said: “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, which is a sub-version of dyslexia. So I can’t count [and] I can’t add.”

Comprised of four members, the Irish rock band consists of Bono, the Edge and Adam Clayton, alongside Mullen.

The condition reduces a person’s ability to comprehend arithmetic and can make it difficult to tell the time or read music.

Dyscalculia is not a result of low intelligence with those suffering from the condition often having an affinity in the creative and artistic fields.

Those with the learning disability may present with some symptoms including finding it difficult to count backwards, remembering basic facts and being slow to perform calculations.

Only recently diagnosed, the drummer spoke of the difficulties he has faced during his career and education.

He has also channelled his creative talents for a new feature to be released early next year.

Bee Gees drummer Dennis Bryon says his years with the band were ‘like a whirlwind’

Left Behind is expected to tell the story of five mothers who want to establish New York’s first state school for those with the condition.

Larry found the project which is close to his heart after his son was diagnosed as dyslexic.

According to the Dyscalculia Network, around 6 per cent of Brits suffer from the condition.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor, an ambassador for the community, best known for being the singer of The Murder on the Dancefloor, has two sons that suffer from the condition.

They were both diagnosed with the learning disability during their time in primary school.

It is thought that millions could unknowingly suffer from dyscalculia.

The learning disability is thought to impact million of people who are unaware that they have the condition

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The learning disability is thought to impact million of people who are unaware that they have the conditionCredit: Getty – Contributor

What is dyscalculia?

According to the NHS, people with Dyscalculia may show the following symptoms or behaviours:

  • Difficulty counting backwards.
  • Difficulty remembering ‘basic’ facts.
  • Slow to perform calculations.
  • Weak mental arithmetic skills.
  • A poor sense of numbers and estimation.
  • Difficulty in understanding place value.
  • Addition is often the default operation.
  • High levels of mathematics anxiety.

    • Source: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

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