My friends and family have always found my scatty ways funny and endearing. Turning up at events only to find an empty room, that the birthday party was in fact the following week. This is because I can get easily confused with dates, times and remembering facts.

Yet my struggles with remembering times and dates have caused me problems in the past. Turning up late for exams, at the wrong building. Handing in essays late, has affected my grades and career opportunities.

People I work with now tell me how organised I am, that I am always early for meetings and never miss deadlines. This is because I have had to really work at double checking times and dates. Understanding that if I am not completely organised, everything can quickly descend into chaos.

Does Dyslexia Affect Memory?

My problems with memory are a common trait of dyslexia. Research has shown that dyslexia people struggle with order and sequences. Important skills needed to be able to remember things. This is why dyslexic people often struggle to spell. Because they find it hard to remember, the correct order of letters in a word.

Issues with memory can also mean dyslexic people struggle to be organised and complete tasks. For example if a dyslexic child struggles to remember the days of the week, in the correct order. Then they will struggle to understand and plan when they need to bring in their P.E kit.

The same issue can stop a dyslexic child being able to tidy their room. Unable to understand and plan which order things need to be put away. The child can become overwhelmed and able to do this simple task.

Memory Tools for Dyslexia

Learning how to cope with dyslexia is something I have learned as an adult. There are many techniques that can be used to boost memory and to help with a person's organisation. Use the blog posts below to learn more.    

• Rule of 10
• Memory Tags
• Muscle Memory
• Get Organised

Dyslexia and Memory Recall Issues

Dyslexia is a common learning difference that affects how individuals read and write. It is estimated that 10-15% of the population has dyslexia, and it is more common in boys than girls. Dyslexia is not a sign of low intelligence, but rather a problem with the way the brain processes language. People with dyslexia may have difficulty with:

• Decoding: This is the ability to sound out words.
• Fluency: This is the ability to read quickly and smoothly.
• Comprehension: This is the ability to understand what you have read.
• Spelling: This is the ability to write words correctly.

In addition to these difficulties with reading and writing, dyslexia can also affect memory. This is because dyslexia can affect the way that the brain encodes, stores, and retrieves information.

How Dyslexia Affects Short-Term Memory

Short-term memory is the ability to hold information in your mind for a short period of time, such as a phone number or a list of instructions. People with dyslexia may have difficulty with short-term memory because they may have difficulty encoding information into their memory. This means that they may not be able to remember information for even a few minutes.

How Dyslexia Affects Working Memory

Working memory is the ability to hold information in your mind while you are working on a task. People with dyslexia may have difficulty with working memory because they may have difficulty keeping track of multiple pieces of information at once. This can make it difficult to follow instructions, complete multi-step tasks, and learn new skills.

How Dyslexia Affects Long-Term Memory

Long-term memory is the ability to remember information for a long period of time, such as facts from history or the lyrics to your favorite song. People with dyslexia may have difficulty with long-term memory because they may have difficulty retrieving information from their memory. This means that they may not be able to remember things that they learned even a few weeks or months ago.

What Can Be Done to Help Memory with Dyslexia?

There are a number of things that you can do to help improve your memory if you have dyslexia. These include:

• Using mnemonic devices: Mnemonic devices are memory aids that can help you to remember information.
• Practicing active recall: Active recall is the act of trying to remember something without the help of cues. This can be done by flashcards, self-testing, or summarizing a text.
• Getting enough sleep: Sleep is important for memory consolidation, which is the process of transferring information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
• Eating a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help to improve cognitive function, including memory.
• Managing stress: Stress can interfere with memory. Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, relaxation techniques, or spending time with loved ones.
• Getting professional help: If you are struggling with memory problems, there are a number of professionals who can help, such as neuropsychologists or speech-language pathologists.

Conclusion

While dyslexia can affect memory, there are a number of things that you can do to improve your memory function. By using mnemonic devices, practicing active recall, getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, managing stress, and getting professional help, you can overcome the challenges of dyslexia and succeed in school and in life.

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