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processing, memory and following instructions

11 replies

cpbp · 14/12/2010 17:22

My 7 year old ds has processing and memory problems and problems following instructions.Anyone else dealing with anything similiar?

We are having a meeting with his teacher and the learning support co- ordinator to work on ways of helping him.

Does anyone have any similiar experience?

Dinner cooking- got to go but would be very grateful for any input!

Many thanks.

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 14/12/2010 17:46

Our DS has poor short term memory - although it seems to be better these days (or maybe he just copes better/we are used to it).

Can't say we had any particular strategy but always break instructions down into one thing rather than a long string; so take your coat off...(wait until he's done it); hang it up....

StarlightWonderStarlightBright · 14/12/2010 17:50

Ooooh, you need dammitjanet. She's developed some strategies just recently.

Visuals can really help with this PROVIDED they are faded.

1percentawake · 14/12/2010 19:46

My 6 yr old son is having similar issues in school. They are putting him on a new course aimed at rewiring the brain using games in order to improve short term memory. This will be the first time they have used it so will have to wait to see the results!

In the meantime, we are using visual aids like pictures to help him remember what to do to get ready for school in the morning etc.

used2bthin · 14/12/2010 19:50

My dd has this problem with language so doesn't have much speech. Pictures help and we used signing which has been great to help her remember words.

countydurhamlass · 14/12/2010 21:35

my ds (7) has processing and memory issues as well as following instructions issues due to a chromosome deletion. we are trying to get a statement as he has some other problems (nothing major just lots of different things that add up. we find we have to keep instructions very simple, one thing at a time, repeat sometimes phrased differently and then check with him to make sure he knows what he has to do to, eg put your coat on, what do you have to do? he has failed two school eye tests and a hospital eye test because he couldnt follow the instructions, they had to be broken down.

visual aids are a great help as ds has problems with auditory memory.

have you considered that he doesnt have memory problems but that it isnt registering with him initially therefore he cannot forget as it never went in, in the first place)? sometimes i feel there is a wall around my ds' brain and sometimes informations hits that and doesnt make it to the brain. that's the best way i can describe it!

i also find routine is very important and constantly reminding ds. also telling him what to expect each day also helps

IndigoBell · 14/12/2010 21:40

Have you had him tested for auditory processing disorder???

cpbp · 15/12/2010 17:07

Thank you all so much for your comments; sorry for the delay in acknowledging but have been and am sick Sad.

He hasn't been tested for apd. I will look into it.

Happy Christmas one and all!

OP posts:
wendihouse22 · 15/12/2010 22:43

Lots of visuals.....

Timelines; cards as prompts; simple instructions/questions etc one....at....a time. When the first's completed, give a second.

My son has ASD (more Aspie) and OCD. He also has a working memory of 4. He is appalling at math. He quite simply cannot recall the process even if he has just been shown it. In other ways, he has a terrific memory .... he can look at a picture or be in a room and tell you what's been moved three inches this way or that from his last visit, 2 months ago!!

I do find that I have to prompt him constantly though, and it can be wearing!!

highhorse · 17/12/2010 09:02

Visuals again. Morning routine here has been helped by putting pictures round the edge of a clock - ie toaster at number 6 means breakfast at 7.30 - uniform at number 10 means get dressed..... DS doesn't necessarily DO these things, but he DOES seem to get why I nag, now!

I have got a Time Tracker (visual timer) which is great for, say, "you have 20 mins of TV then you need to turn it off". Warning lights and sounds mean he's ready for the "time's up". It works a treat generally; best money I have spent or it would be if only DH would be bothered to learn how to programme it instead of making do with the kitchen timer Hmm

Lists of what needs to be done - packing for school, packing homework etc. Rewards for doing these things have helped my DS.

working9while5 · 19/12/2010 10:00

I don't think you can really fade the visuals very easily for processing issues..

I personally have difficulties organising myself (executive function type difficulties). Countless lost bank cards, phones, serious issues with filing accurately at work, that sort of thing.. sounds trivial but there was a point where I was close to being in serious trouble at work because I was just crashing and burning with the amount of organisation I needed to do and I just wasn't able for it, would forget to do really important things and couldn't manage myself to meet deadlines. It was contributing to me feeling quite ill at work. As a little girl, my desk at school was utter chaos and I just couldn't keep it neat and tidy like others could. I used to be really ashamed by this (and still have closets like my desk).

I am 32 years old and NT and I need visuals to help me remember to do the things I need to do (lists, post-it notes etc). When I am at a meeting, I have to write down what I hear to process it (and it really bloody irritates me when people tell you to stop because "there's a handout"). For some people it isn't really realistic to learn to remember and act upon things in your head only.

For adults, there are a raft of organisational techniques that take account of the fact that we can't all juggle information in our head - from post it notes to PDA's, filing systems, prioritisation schemes, Outlook reminders, mobile phone reminders, fly lady etc. None of these carry any social stigma whatsoever - so rather than focusing on fading visuals, I would be thinking of working out what systems are going to work to help my child become an active listener and, in the future, be able to write down information and organise it into a system they can later rely on.

At 7, it's unrealistic to be able to operate an adult-type system (most typical 7 year olds don't have many of the essential subskills to allow for this, let alone those with processing challenges) but this is one area where physical structure can help.

Most kids need support to learn to organise themselve at first - breaking down instructions etc, doing things in the immediate context vs moving to another room to do it, but in time they can be given more responsibility for checking back that they have understood the instruction and know what they need to do e.g. repeating the instruction and writing down key words of what they need to do etc. At secondary school, remembering and writing down what you need to do is crucial across the school day: getting out equipment in lessons, putting it away, making it to class on time etc. However, we don't really expect 7 year olds to do very much of this without physical/visual and adult support e.g. they don't clear out the cupboards or organise much of the equipment for lessons..

Most typically developing kids who are organised have learned those skills over time at home and at school - tidying up, knowing there is a place for everything and everything has its place etc. Filing and sorting and organising yoruself is not an innate skill, it is one that most people learn through repeated experience which moves from being more or less supported to more or less independent.

For youngish kids with difficulties in this area, it's easy to do simple things like colour coding or labelling boxes (with a symbol if literacy is an issue) and making "toy filing" systems as obvious as possible e.g. all cars in one box, all crayons in another etc, having a special pocket in a school bag for notes from school that gets checked every day as soon as they come in, routines etc.

Kids with SEN may need more opportunities to do the same things before they are fluent at them - they may need more explicit structures which can be faded, true.. but it's important to recognise, here, that visual and physical structure for organising yourself is the social norm so ultimately, shaping their use towards what is going to be most useful in their future lives is more important than removing these supports. Independent use, I suppose.

IndigoBell · 19/12/2010 10:06

Great post working!

Given me loads of ideas...

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