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Strategies for Short-term Memory Loss
Survivors might remember events from ten years ago, but cannot seem to remember who called yesterday or where they put the keys. Memory involves many facets of the brain, and if a brain aneurysm or treatment damaged any of these areas, your memory will suffer. Many survivors regain their ability to remember as they continue to heal, while some continue to experience difficulty with short-term memory for years.
Absorbing, storing, and recalling information are some of the problems survivors face after a rupture or treatment of a brain aneurysm. Below are several strategies for coping with these potential problems.
To absorb information more clearly:
Link - associate new information with something old.
Simplify - sensory and language overload are a real issue. Shorten sentences for easier understanding; break up larger pieces of information in order to focus better.
To store information more clearly:
Repeat - immediately after someone says something to you or you learn something new, repeat it to yourself. Then wait a few minutes, and repeat it again to see if you remember. Sounds funny, but works!
To recall information more clearly - (This is hardest for most survivors):
Organize - never before were Post-It™ notes so important. Invest in several packages, along with a daily planner, a calendar, and even a tape recorder if you think that will help you remember things. Writing down important information, such as dates, doctor appointments, medication schedules, addresses and phone numbers is critical.
Routine - recovering from serious illness requires a healthy and well-thought routine. Routines solidify and anchor memories, so they can be recalled much quicker and with less frustration.
Play - believe it or not, playing games helps your memory. Crossword puzzles, word searches, and other games help with information recall.
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