Holding on to what has been said
Last updated:Difficulty holding onto what has been heard
A child may present this in a variety of ways including echoing what has been said, remembering only keywords or final words of sentences they have heard. They may fail to understand the whole content or even the essence of what has been said.
This is often described as 'short-term memory difficulties'.
Support Strategies:
- Help the child to understand what 'short-term memory' is.
- Teach what factors can make short-term memory weaker. For example tiredness, hunger or distractions in their environment.
- Develop their knowledge of memory aids that adults and children use. These can include planners, pinboards notes and calendars.
- Encourage the use of memory aids the child finds helpful such as drawings, notebooks, pictures and lists. Monitor the use of the memory aid the child uses.
- Teach memory strategies:
- Repeating strategy: Where a verbal message is kept alive in short-term memory longer, and long enough to be analysed.
- Visualising strategy: Where a mental image can help to keep information alive for longer.
- Play memory activities for therapy and practice.
- Enhance self-esteem by praising independent use of memory aids and strategies.
Useful Resource: "Short Term Memory Difficulties in Children" - A practical resource.