Rehabilitating Attention
Memory complaints are common for individuals over the age of 50. Common areas of difficulty are memories for complex directions, names and conversations. Trouble remembering nonverbal information is also common but often goes unnoticed. A neuropsychological assessment is the ideal way to understand one’s cognitive limitations. Patterns in memory performance and degree of memory impairment typically reveal the best course or remediation.
Once a genuine memory problem has been discovered and verified by a professional, such as a neuropsychologist, the appropriateness of cognitive rehabilitation can be understood. While conditions such as strokes and brain injuries are often amenable to this treatment, Alzheimer’s disease and other more progressive degenerative processes carry a more guarded prognosis.
Once cognitive rehabilitation begins, it is important to prioritize areas of lost functioning that are most important to regain. For instance, if you really hate forgetting names of people, that might be at the top of your list.
Once that you have prioritized abilities that you wish to regain, memory strategies and exercises can then be deployed as a clinician attempts to identify lifestyle changes which could strengthen cognitive functioning.
Memory Tools
Compensatory tools are instruments which can be used to prevent you from forgettting. Here is a list of such tools.
1) Strings
2) Rubber bands
-
3)Computers
-
4)Memory log
5) Voice recorders
-
6)Post-it notes
-
7)Alarm clocks
-
8)Organizers
-
9)
The best tool for memory is a cellular phone. I recommend going to your wireless service provider and asking them to set up your automatic dial, voice recorder, alarm clocks and reminders.
Memory Strategies
There is no “one size fits all” memory strategy. This is because memory strategies are dependent upon other strengths such as previously stored memories, processing speed and language skills, to compensate for memory difficulties. For instance, a retired sports announcer might think of athletic jerseys to recall a string of numbers while a secretary might imagine typing the numbers onto a keyboard.
One helpful approach is to survey as many memory encoding strategies as possible. Below is a list of strategies that might be useful.
After discovering the memory strategy what is best for you, it is helpful to engage in exercises that strengthen the functional pathways of your brain. Below are links to websites that can be used to target and strengthen specific pathways in the brain.
Memory
Memory
Memory
Memory
