by Dr Laurie Miller, PhD, Clinical Neuropsychologist
Some forms of epilepsy are associated with cognitive issues. Problems with learning and memory are amongst the most commonly noticed problems. Of course, factors such as sleep disruption, stress, anxiety and depression can add to the difficulties.
As a Neuropsychologist, I would recommend the following if you are having these sorts of problems.
First, it is best to try to deal with any mood, psychological or fatigue factors that might be playing a role. A discussion with your family physician and/or referral to a Clinical or Counselling Psychologist with a specialisation in epilepsy for advice and treatment should help to address these issues. If more severe cognitive problems persist, then referral to a Neurologist or Clinical Neuropsychologist for assessment and advice is advised.
For mild to moderate problems with everyday memory, there is a new online treatment for adults that involves six sessions with a clinician and three-months of access to educational content and computer-based exercises. It’s called MEMORehab. If you’re interested in pursuing this therapy, please email one of the clinicians on this register. These people have been trained in the use of the program.
Strategies to help you cope:
Problems with multitasking and attention are best dealt with by minimising intrusive distractions, focussing on one thing at a time and improving your own routine. For example:
- Set aside two or three specific times per day to check emails or social media.
- Keep a note pad with you and write down the things you need to remember to finish or use post-it notes to leave yourself messages in places you will find them when appropriate.
- Try to do daily- or weekly-repeated tasks always at the same time of day or always on the same day of the week. For example, link activities such as your medication-taking, lunch-packing and gym-bag readying and do them in a particular order and at a specific time (make a list if necessary). Remember that some activities, though normally done in the morning before heading out might better by accomplished during a quieter time such as in the previous evening.
If you are finding it difficult to concentrate or learn something new:
- Reduce background noise
- Reduce the chances of interruption (e.g., by closing your office door or forwarding your phone to an answering machine)
- Move to a quiet space (or don headphones or earplugs)
- Engage in mental tasks when you are at your brightest (for most this would be relatively early in the day or soon after a coffee!)
- Remember that it is always easiest to learn something new if one is first shown what to do and then is given the chance to try and do it oneself a few times under supervision/guidance.
- Repeatedly practice new things a few times soon after learning them.
To support your memory:
- Ask people to remind you by sending emails or text messages with information.
- Use a diary or phone calendar with reminder alarms to record upcoming commitments, appointments and deadlines. Write in reminders for performing tasks as well. Of course, it’s also important to keep these devices with you!
- If trying to remember something specific that you’ve forgotten (e.g., What was it you were supposed to order?), try to imagine the context in which it was learned: (e.g., Who told you? Where were you when it was told to you? How did you react emotionally? How long ago was it?)
- Rely on physical reminders to remember to do things (e.g., place the item you want to remember to take with you on top of your purse, establish a tray on the desk (or a file on your computer desktop) where you place items that need your attention (e.g., bills, invitations, etc)
- Keep record of what has happened/what you’ve done. This may be relevant for things like medical records, bills paid, gifts given, or more general life events. You might find that physical files in a filing cabinet, computer files or a journal are helpful for such things.
Things are remembered better when you are trying to recall something in the same place that the learning took place, so try to do similar work in the same spot each time. Before you begin to do computer-based work or paperwork, give yourself a minute to concentrate and settle into your workspace.
Finally, in general, focus on what is most important. It’s probably better to do fewer things well than many things poorly. If you are not able to keep on top everything that you used to do, try to eliminate the nonessential or less enjoyable activities, say “no” more often, delegate, and ask for help.
If you want help with putting these and other strategies in place to make your everyday memory optimal, contact us at MEMORehab or Dr Laurie Miller [email protected]
MEMORehab is a program that will help you learn strategies to improve your memory and teach you about how the brain works . It involves six, one-hour interactive sessions led by a clinician and provides numerous additional online educational and practice materials.
Written by Laurie Miller, PhD, Clinical Neuropsychologist
Co-founder, Content Development Officer, MEMO Memory Rehabilitation, Pty, Ltd
