Dyslexia help and advice, information, contacts, research and articles about dyslexia; dyslexia in the workplace and at college; books amd software; and assessment for adults who may be dyslexic or have difficulties with spelling.

SHORT-TERM MEMORY.

by

Sylvia Moody.

Short-term memory (STM) is a temporary store for information. The information in this store will later either be forgotten or, if important, transferred to our long-term memory store. For example, we use STM to remember a telephone number for a few seconds, or to keep the shape of an object in mind as we try to draw it. To use your STM, carefully read through the following numbers ONCE ONLY; then look away and see if you can recall them in the correct order:  5 9 2 8 3 7 4 6.

One important component of STM is working memory. In the example given above, STM was a passive recipient of information – its task was to remember the information only, not to do anything with it. The working memory component, however, is active: it takes the information held in the main STM store and uses it in some way. For example, we use working memory when we do mental arithmetic. To use your working memory, carefully read the following sentence through ONCE ONLY and then try to work out the sum in your head.  Add 5 and 3 and 8 and 4 and then divide by 2.

Poor short-term memory, especially in the visual and auditory modalities, is often associated with dyslexia. Below are some of the difficulties it causes:

General difficulties.

·         remembering telephone numbers

·         copying down numbers correctly

·         remembering messages, instructions and directions

·         keeping track of ideas when speaking, listening or writing

·         remembering people’s names

·         remembering where things have been put

Study difficulties.

·         taking notes in lectures

·         formulating responses to questions in seminars

Workplace difficulties.

·         taking notes in meetings

·         following discussions

·         following oral instructions

·         taking telephone messages

Managing the difficulties.

·         break numbers and words into chunks

·         read sentences slowly and methodically

·         try to identify the central theme of each paragraph you read

·         request repeats or written back-up for instructions

·         ask for instructions to be given in visual form, eg, flow charts

·         use set formats for telephone messages

·         use visual symbols or pictures as cues and reminders

·         tape record instructions / lectures / meetings

·         take regular rest breaks

·         do relaxation exercises

Further reading.

Dyslexia in the Workplace, by Diana Bartlett and Sylvia Moody, published by Whurr.

Dyslexia at College, by Tim Miles and Dorothy Gilroy, published by Routledge.

Help organisations.

The British Dyslexia Association  01189 668271.
www.bda-dyslexia.org.uk

The Dyspraxia Foundation  01462 454986.   www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk

Dyslexia Adults Link  www.dyslexia-adults.com

Dr Sylvia Moody is a chartered psychologist who specialises in assessing adults who have dyslexic/dyspraxic difficulties.