Is your child slow as a turtle in mental arithmetic? Does he twitch when told to follow instructions or go right and left?

If yes, then it’s very likely your child is suffering from working memory loss. A good working memory is absolutely essential for children and adults alike to take on everyday activities.

Working memory stores material saved by short-term memory and helps you use it to complete a task. However, some children suffer from working memory loss. Unlike adults, children suffer from this due to vitamin deficiency, seizures, stress or even dyslexia.

According to research, during screening, 10% of school students were recognized as having working memory problems. This article aims to try and reach at the bottom of this matter to spread light on this underrated issue.

Long-Term Memory VS Short Term Memory VS Working Memory

Although memory is considered to be a comprehensive aspect of the human brain, it mostly comprises of two types: long term and short term.

Long-term memory is the kind that preserves information for a prolonged period of time, whether we are actively thinking about it or not.

Long-term memory has more subdivisions which include Procedural memory, Semantic memory, Autobiographical memory, and Episodic memory.

Procedural Memory

This lasts forever. Skills that are nurtured during childhood like handwriting, brushing our teeth and so on are classified as Procedural memory.

Semantic Memory

Like Procedural memory, Semantic memory can last forever too, provided we use that information frequently. For example: Using fractions is a daily activity that is practiced regularly.

Autobiographical Memory

This is special since it stocks info about the good and bad times of our life. Major events like our anniversary, our birthdays fall into this category.

Episodic Memory

This memory archives an explicit event or a specific point of time. For example: Where we left off our keys, recalling to have lunch and so on.

Short-term memory, on the other hand, holds information for a short period of time (mostly just about 20 to 30 seconds.)

Reading a book is an example of short-term memory. When reading the book, the title gets stored in short-term memory. After succeeding to the following paragraphs, the former ones get stored in short-term memory too and so on.

Now, most people often mistake working memory as short-term memory. The truth is, yes short term memory is a part of working memory, but the latter has its own individual use.

While short-term memory holds information temporarily, working memory (which is just a notch over attention) stocks and operates that temporary information and puts it to use.

For example, during SATS, students are required to absorb new information, remember that information, and then apply the information in order to do well in the exam.

What are the Symptoms of Working Memory Loss in Children?

Children who suffer from working memory loss tend to be very quiet and insecure. Most of the times people around them mistake this detachment as inhibition or introversion.

But, it’s important to dig deep and find out if working memory loss is the issue. Here are some of the most common symptoms observed when children suffer from working memory loss:

• Gets easily distracted
• Has trouble remembering academic material despite studying hard
• Does not actively participate in school activities
• Faces difficulty when reading and writing
• Poor organizational and grasping skills
• Despises being loaded with work
• Has a hard time counting and doing mental arithmetic
• Forgets essential steps when following instructions
• Poor academic performance
• Below average language skills and so on

Why Working Memory Loss Occurs in Children?

Why do kids suffer from working memory loss? I’m sure this a question countless people wonder and want to be answered.

As we have seen earlier, working memory and short-term memory are interlinked but not the same thing. Anything that affects the short-term memory automatically affects the working memory of the individual.

Now, contrary to popular belief, adults and children actually have totally different reasons to be suffering from working memory loss. Some of them include:

Prescription Drugs

Some children are born with physical difficulties or are prone to allergies and diseases. It’s possible they’ve been prescribed with a lot of antibiotics and other medications. This can take a toll on their working memory.

Neurological Disorders

A lot of children suffer from autism, dyslexia and even ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). These are neurological disorders that hamper a child’s learning abilities.

These disabilities make it difficult for children to concentrate on a specific task for a reasonable amount of time.

Poor Acoustic Memory

A child with a poor acoustic memory is able to hear and comprehend info but don’t remember it for too long.

Dyslexia, as mentioned before, blights a person’s articulacy and eloquence. They also hamper a child’s auditory memory.

Vitamin and Nutritional Deficiency

Low intake of necessary protein and fats can cause your child to suffer from Vitamin B12 deficiency. This can hamper your child’s brain power as these foods protect our brain’s nerves and neurotransmitters.

So your child’s diet regularly should consist of fish, eggs, lean meat, and dairy.

Stress and Depression

It’s common for children to experience stress and depression at this age due to an overload of school work.

Also, with the digital age, it is possible children are staying up until the wee hours of the morning. This sleep deprivation can also hamper a child’s working memory.

How to Deal with Children Suffering from Working Memory Loss?

Children with working memory loss can be quite sensitive and difficult to deal with it. The constant eye-balls they grab for their low functioning IQ can make them insecure and morose. So, it’s important to be careful when dealing with them.

Emotional Support

The executive function of one child’s brain differs from another. Children with poor working memory will find it difficult to communicate freely and clearly and be swift in mental math.

Their workload capacity will also be less, so it’s important for parents and teachers to identify their problems and mutually sit and design specific actions for them to learn and partake in.

It’s important to curtail learning problems by avoiding working memory overload. Teachers and parents should be patient and encouraging to children and not be afraid of re-stating important information.

Even if a child repeatedly makes a mistake, it’s wise not to reprimand them harshly. Advancing the use of memory aids and teaching basic strategies will also be beneficial.

Appropriate Training

Dealing with children with working memory issues can be tricky. There’s still a lot of info parents need to know.

For example, the importance of the right kind of training. Cogmed, a computer-based training program has been very popular to train young minds suffering from this condition.

With 25 sessions spanning 6-8 weeks, a lot of cool activities take place that entices little children. From seeing a random lamp light up to hear a series of numbers and letters, it is a cool designed game to train working memory.

Every time they hear or see something, they are tested both in the same and reverse order with the difficulty ranging from easy to adaptive depending on whether the children are alone or in groups.

This game-style training, however, is the not the best option to deal improve working memory. It’s better for narrow, precise tasks.

If you want to improve your child’s overall working memory, look for training that is based on that specific task-whether it’s mathematics, reading or writing.

If you do enroll your child in specific training, make sure your child practices every new thing they learn extensively plus help them strategize everyday activities better.

Healthy Living

Healthy living is important for a healthy and well-functioning mind. Add necessary proteins, fat and leafy greens in your child’s diet.

Vitamin B12 and omega 3 fatty acids are vital for cognitive development. If your child is deprived of these nutrients, they’ll be more prone to working memory loss.

Exercising is also important. Encourage your kid to do some light exercises first thing in the morning or take part in a few sports. Getting into a body and wellness program can also be a good idea. Good physical health is a prerequisite to a healthy mind and soul.

How to Boost Working Memory?

Finally, let’s talk about what can be done to boost your child’s working memory. Working memory is known to be the mental workspace, the executive function of the brain.

It’s absolutely essential for it to function properly to carry on basic activities. Thankfully, you can boost your child’s working memory through these simple, yet effective tips.

Teach and Get Taught

Teaching children and making them come into terms with their weakness is a good idea to help them boost their working memory.

Also, making them teach what they learn at that very instant to their parents, peers, and teachers will help them grasp the topic better.

Encourage Active Reading and Taking Notes

Taking notes, highlighting important information in small ques and sticky notes help children process information better and remember it for a prolonged period of time.

Break Down Information

As mentioned earlier, children with working memory issues cannot process long information and despise being overload with schoolwork.

Thus, whatever you teach them, break it down into smaller bites, highlight the major points and create a logical outline. Explain them one at a time as opposed to altogether.

Get them Age Appropriate Toys and Games

Back in the day toys may have been touted as frivolous objects, but the truth today is vastly different. With enticing designs and intelligent functions, the modern toy is a great bet for development.

Not just physical, toys today play a huge part in cognitive development too. There’s a lot of toys that are both enlightening and entertaining teaching both basic ABC’s and 123’s to little children.

There’s also a lot of toys that are creative and music-oriented plus helps develop a child’s acoustic and optical memory.

Scrabble, UNO, Monopoly are great games to train the working memory of older children as there are rules to remember and specific tasks to apply those rules.

Practice Makes them Perfect

Whatever you teach your children or whatever they learn in school, make them practice over and over again. Make them rehearse what they’ve learned and reiterated it at least 5 times. Whether its spellings, times table or so on.

Instill the habit of writing in your children. Makes them take notes every time they read something and say it out loud so the lesson reaches their ears and finally their brain. Use singing and dancing and other multisensory strategies to help them comprehend things better.

Conclusion

It’s tragic for children who suffer from working memory loss. At this time of a child’s low self-esteem, it’s vital for teachers and parents to come together and take charge!

Remember, working memory can always be improved. Evaluate their problems and diminish distractions. Find ways to connect information that ameliorates both their working and long-term memory. Last but not the least, have faith in yourself and your child, focus and create effective coping strategies like the ones mentioned above.