Am I just a bit(very)thick or do I have a condition?

[Sugarplumfairyfartface]

Words like misogynist, gaslighting, narcissism I had to Google ages ago yet I still don't really remember what they mean exactly most of the time and have to regoogle to remind myself, I also NEVER remember stuff like what a "doing" word is called, pronouns etc etc actually can't even remember the words now does my little brain just choose not to remember boring crap or am I actually thick?

I would never use the word ‘thick’ to describe someone. I’m sure you are not that!

It is not unusual not to know things. It is perhaps a little unusual to keep forgetting the same things. But different parts of your mind is used for different things and not all memory functions work the same.

Are your problems related solely to words and ‘grammar’? Or other things too? How old are you? Have you had a recent illness? Have you always been like it? Do you/have you ever held down employment? There are lots of different factors that will determine whether you have a learning difficulty or disability or a specific additional learning need.

It is hard to say from what you have posted.

For context - I have very good language skills and an excellent a memory for words/conversations etc. But I struggle to read a map, can’t really remember visual things very well at all and have a poor sense of direction. I play to my strengths and all is well.

I hope you get some answers though if this is bothering you.

Intelligence comes in many different forms. I know people who are very articulate with amazing vocabularies but no common sense whatsoever.

You tend to forget things you don’t use and I bet you haven’t used much grammar since school. No one is thick, people are good at different things. We all use a dictionary, the more you look them up the more ingrained in your brain they get so eventually you’ll remember. What do you do for work? Do you have children (in the first year or so of having my children my brain was pure mush)?

There's a big difference between not knowing lots of new words, poor general knowledge, forgetting things and a learning difficulty.

Omg I read a about a condition called anomie aphasia as I am very much as you described and was really worried.
I will say can you please pass me the erm white drink stuff from the erm cold cupboard. It’s like the words are just not there.

It happens so often my DH says it’s like a quiz every conversation.
It can actually be quite embarrassing though.

Sorry anomic aphasia

Ooo lots of questions! Have 2 kids (older) im in 40's run a business office based always worked actually only realised recently I don't remember certain things also can't (or can't be bothered to learn!) read maps properly actually have had some minor healthconditions maybe that does effect memory (low iron etc etc) but couldn't be arsed with things I was not interested in at school ie: maths so switch off when it comes to things like that wonder if I avoid remembering cos I can't remember or cos there's no point cos I won't learn it anyway. For context I do remember lots of other nice things I am interested in.

Do you read widely and often? I have learnt most of my vocabulary from reading lots (and lots, and lots) of books. Me and DH have a bit of a book problem.

If you aren't using words often, either by reading them or in conversation then you won't remember the meanings.

Even though I'd consider myself reasonably intelligent, I don't remember the terminology for English language. I can write a sentence, with decent grammar but had to look up digraphs and trigraphs when my 4 year old DD came home from school last year and told me she had been doing them at school.

I don't think you're thick at all, you could have something like Dyslexia, you'd need an assessment to say for sure, or you could just be out of practice.

Do you think you might be peri-menopausal? That causes tiredness, brain fog and poor memory.

I was going to say that, too, Unburnished. I'm 47 and have been forgetting words (and other stuff) for years. Was convinced it was dementia until the penny dropped that it's hormonal. I've a friend a year older and our conversations are awful - 'Did you see that thing on TV... the one with what's his name... used to be Dr Who... and some other people... it was really good...' I can remember things that are very important to me (which means that they are directly related to my running programme!!) But anything else - no chance!

I’m fine with remembering meanings (most of the time) but I often struggle with remembering how to pronounce words. Particularly if it’s a word that doesn’t often come up in conversation. Like hyperbole, I can never quite remember the correct pronunciation.

I suspect it’s because I was a voracious and early reader (who didn’t do phonics) so made up my own pronunciation.

OP you sound like me.

Director level of a big UK company. Cant not remember what a verb or adverb is. I constantly have to google things to make sure I have got it right.

I can only do things that interest me. But found a way round that. Part of my role is business improvement. I hate spreadsheets, but realised that is I soemt time looking at them I could drop a few figures and graphs into proposals, it always got pushed through. I learned that by knowing the data inside out, I could look really clever and competent.

Yet 3 days later, when I know longer need it off the top of my head, I cant remember it again.

It's like my brains says 'do you need this information now? Nope? In the bin it goes.'

I'm a lot like this as well, especially the brain no longer needing to store the information bit! I often wonder if I have some form of dyslexia which was never picked up at School. I am not very articulate but I know my field at work and feel very powerful because of the knowledge I have. I wonder what we have got?

Ahh thanks for all the helpful replies this is the first question I have asked on here (I think anyway can't actually remember lol!) and u all made me feel a lot better could b any of these things I am leaning towards Peri menopause thing thanks again! X

So, are you saying you don't what a verb is, for example, or a noun?