Displaying text based on variable

When I open up a new flash document and start from scratch, it works fine.  But when I try to apply it to my existing project it isn't translating.  Here is the code for the variable that I wish to determine what specific text to display:

var brushSize:Number = 23;
var brushSizeMax:Number = 43;
var brushSizeMin:Number = 3;
function changeValue(pHow:Number){
    brushSize += pHow;
    if(brushSize > brushSizeMax){
        brushSize = brushSizeMax;
    }
    if(brushSize < brushSizeMin){
        brushSize = brushSizeMin;
    }
    brushSizeText.text = brushSize;
}

brushUp.onPress = function(){
    changeValue(10);
}
brushDown.onPress = function(){
    changeValue(-10);
}  

when I try

if( brushSize == 3) {

     brushSizeDisp.text=1;

}

I get no results.  brushSize is my variable, and brushSizeDisp is the instance name of a dynamic text field that I placed on the stage.