In previous blog posts, I have highlighted two of the many domains of cognitive-communication that SLPs address when working with adolescents and adults with neurogenic conditions: attention and word finding. Today I’m turning the focus to another common deficit: impaired memory. Often short-term memory, in specific, can be impaired after a brain injury or stroke, or with a diagnosis of dementia. Impaired short-term memory can include feelings of forgetfulness, misplacing items, forgetting appointments and difficulty retaining new information, among other things. One of the first goals I address with clients experiencing difficulty with memory is the implementation of compensatory strategies.
As with any diagnosis or impairment, it is imperative to develop client-specific goals and treatment techniques, but there are some general strategies that can help anyone experiencing difficulty with short-term memory. Here are a few strategies to trial:
- Write it down – The #1 thing you can do to help keep track of and remember things is to write them down. I recommend obtaining a daily planner notebook to use, as it keeps your notes organized in one place (avoid sticky notes that can get lost easily!) and includes the day/date to help you remember appointments, meetings, etc. The act of writing itself can also help your brain retain information better.
- Focus your attention – Attention and memory work very closely together. In order for your brain to form a new memory, you must be tuned in and paying attention to the information. Often when memory is impaired, attention can also be impaired. Try to consciously focus your attention on something when trying to remember it.
- ‘Stop & Think’ – This is a tip I tell people to help reduce the frequency of forgetting to take things with them when leaving the home or office. When you are walking out the door to go somewhere, stop yourself and think: Where am I going? What do I need? Do I have everything with me? Pausing for a few seconds and running through this mental (or physical) checklist can save you the time and hassle of having to go back to retrieve something you forgot.
It may feel frustrating to need to use a compensatory strategy to help you do something you used to do without thinking about it, but I encourage you to re-frame this thought. Rather than thinking of these strategies as crutches, try to envision them as supports, or tools that help you function at your best. If you have questions about the strategies above, or concerns about your memory, please do not hesitate to contact us.