Impact of Poor Working Memory
When a child has poor working memory, you may notice the following:
In the classroom
- Missing and forgetting verbal instructions
- Easily distracted, especially if the work is not interesting
- Struggling with all the tasks of writing: for example, forgetting about spelling, punctuation, layout and grammar when trying to put together and remember the words and sentences they want to write
- Able only to remember small chunks when copying from the board onto paper
- Struggle with mental arithmetic, and automatic memory of math facts such as times table
- Struggle with problem solving that involves holding information in mind whilst working things out
- Trouble getting started, staying on task through to completion, and self monitoring classroom work
- Trouble learning to read, reading efficiently and comprehending whilst reading
- Trouble planning and efficiently undertaking assignment work, or any other task that needs to be done in a series of steps
- Forgetting books, pencils, homework, clothing
- Disorganised desk
- Trouble doing two things at once, such as listening and taking notes
- When asked to speak, may forget what he/she was going to say
- Trouble integrating new understandings with existing knowledge
- Variability of ability and performance (sometimes the just seem to get it all right)
- Deterioration with fatigue
Around the home
- Unable to remember more than one or two instructions at a time
- Easy distractibilty, forgetting what they are supposed to be doing
- Frustration, anger, poor management of emotional responses to day-to-day tasks
- Untidy bedroom, unable to organise cleaning
- Forgetting to bring required books, homework, clothing home from school
- Trouble doing the series of tasks every morning to get ready for school, even though they have been the same for years
- Of many projects commenced, few completed, even fewer cleaned up afterwards
Social Behaviour
- Impulsivity - failing to adequately 'think before acting'
- Over time, children with poor WM may struggle to learn mature ways of managing complex social situations, such that their behaviour has an 'immature' quality
- Difficulty remembering people's names
- Interrupting (because they are afraid they may forget what they want to say), having trouble waiting his/her turn
- Being late all the time
Self Concept and Self Esteem
- WM problems lead to a situation where children often get into trouble for their behaviour, or fail to achieve academically to the level expected for their intelligence. Over time, this can have a negative impact on how they think about themselves, leading to poor self concept and poor self esteem.
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