Chapter 11 Coping with Memory Impairment

Abstract

Publisher Summary Memory problems are frequently associated with neurological conditions. It is possible to reduce everyday memory problems through such measures as by-passing or avoiding problems through environmental restructuring or finding alternative ways to remember through the use of external memory aids or enabling memory impaired people to make more efficient use of their residual (albeit damaged) skills. Memory impaired people and their families may also cope better with their difficulties if they are provided with information about—(1) the nature of memory impairment, (2) why certain problematic behaviors occur, (3) what to expect in the future, and (4) self help and support groups for both the memory impaired person and the carers. Although some improvement in memory functioning may occur in the early stages for those without degenerative diseases, and some head injured people may continue to improve over a long period, it is unrealistic to expect that the majority of memory impaired people will recover. Memory can be regarded as composed of three stages—namely, input, storage and retrieval (Baddeley). Some researchers believe amnesia is a deficit of input (or encoding), others states that it is primarily a deficit of storage and others argue it is a deficit of retrieval. Harris believes there are two kinds of internal strategies—those that are learned naturally, and the artificial mnemonics.