External Strategies
Compensatory Strategy Training
Internal Strategies
Internal Strategies
- Placing of Objects: Place personal items in special places so that they can be easily located
- Checklists: Construct checklists of things that need to be completed
- Sticky Notes: Stick these at eye-level or in familiar places to remind you of things you need to do
- Wall Calender or Planner: Use a large wall planner or calender for recording important appointments or occasions
(Malia & Brannigan, 2006;
Radomski & Trombly, 2008)
- Compensatory memory strategies can improve an individual's ability to record, store and recall information
- Memory strategies and aids can be either internal or external
- Internal strategies require the individual to mentally process and think about the information themselves
- External strategies are those where the person relies on others or physical objects or devices
- Stories/Rhymes: Make up a story or rhyme that contains the information to be remembered
- Mental Retracing: Retrace a sequence of actions in the mind to help with remembering
- Categorising Information: Organise the information under key headings in small groups
- PQRST: Preview, question, read, state and test the information to be remebered to process at a deeper level
- SQ3r: Survery, question, read, recall and review information for deeper processing of what is to be remembered
(Malia & Brannigan, 2006;
Radomski & Trombly, 2008)
(Malia & Brannigan, 2006)
External Strategies
- Rehearsal: Repeat information over and over silently in the mind
- Visual Imagery: Create pictures in the mind of what is to be remembered
- Association: Create a meaningful connection between something familiar and the thing that needs to be remembered
- First Letter Cues: Write down or try to remember the first letter of the word you need to recall to act as a trigger to recall the rest of the word
(Malia & Brannigan, 2006;
Radomski & Trombly, 2008)
Further Information
- Diary: Keep a notebook/ diary and write things down
- Electronic Aids: Use a Dictaphone and or recorder and play it back
- Phonecalls: Keep an important numbers list and message book by the telephone
- Mobile Phone: Set alarm reminders on your mobile phone
- Pill Organisers: Use these to keep track of medications
(Malia & Brannigan, 2006;
Radomski & Trombly, 2008)
The Impact of Memory Problems
The information provided in this presentation is a general information guide only. Individuals with MS might want to seek profressional assistance with assement and treatment of cognitive problems.
Occupational Therapists and Neuropsychologists are specially trained in this area. Consultations with one of these healthcare profressionals can be arranged through a Neurologist or MS Nurse.
- Problems managing independent activities of daily living
- Adherence to MS medications
- Poorer vocational status
- Difficulty driving
- Impaired social functionning
(Hancock et al., 2015)
What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?
References
O'Brien, A. R., Chiaravalloti, N., Goverover, Y. & DeLuca, J. (2008). Evidence-based cognitive rehabilitation for persons with multiple sclerosis: a review of the literature. Archives of Physical Medical Rehabilitation, 89, 761-769.
Radomski, M.V. & Trombly, M.V. (2008). Occupational Therapy for Physical Dysfunction. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
Yu, C.H. & Mathiowetz, V. (2014). Systematic review of occupational therapy-related interventions for people with multiple sclerosis: Part 1. Activity and Participation. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68, 27-32.
References
- MS is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system characterised by the production of plaques in the brain and spinal cord (O'Brien et al., 2008)
- MS results in a wide range of symptoms including motor, cognitive and psychological problems (Yu & Mathiowetz, 2014)
Chiaravalloti, N., DeLuca, J., Moore, N.B. & Ricker, J.H. (2005). Treating learning impairments improves memory performance in multiple sclerosis: a randomised clinical trial. Multiple Sclerosis, 11, 58-68.
Goverover, Y., Chiaravalloti, N. & DeLuca, J. (2008). Self-generation to improve learning and memory of functional activities in persons with multiple sclerosis: meal preparation and managing finances. Archives of Physical Medical Rehabilitation, 89, 1514-1520.
Hancock, L.M., Bruce, J.M, Bruce, A.S. & Lynch, S.G. (2015). Processing speed and working memory training in multiple sclerosis: A double-blind randomsed controlled pilot study. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 37 (2), 113-127.
Malia, K. & Brannagan, A. (2006). Cognitive Rehabilitation Workshop for Professionals. Brain Tree Training.
MS and Memory
- The most prominent cognitive deficits in MS involve memory and learning (Goverover et al., 2008)
- Research has shown that the memory deficit in MS appears to be primarily one of acquisition of new information rather than retrieval from long-term storage (Chiaravalloti et al., 2005)
Compensatory Strategies for Memory Impairment in Multiple Sclerosis