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Aspergers memory issues, advice for home schooler

puffin

Hello all,

I am Home schooling my seven year old son who has suspected Aspergers.  He is doing so well in all aspects of schooling that i thought i would consentrate a bit more on social aspects.  I decided to try ognitive learning and commence with feelings.  We started a "HAPPY BOOK" as recommended in a few books to ease him in to feelings. 

Well we drew a blank after Mum and dad as things that make him happy, (atleast he remembered us)!  He haslots of loves that make him happy but could recall none in the discussion and wanted alot of prompting.  On talking afterwards with my son i asked ifhe could exlain why he found the task so difficult, he said " he can only remember things  he is doing that second  and no more"  it was a real eye opener for me, i knew he had a poor working memory and is a visual learner, i can see how this can affect him in so many different ways.

How can i improve this aspect, should i have used visual prompts, but i wanted it to be his view and not all my prompting , how can we discuss feelings when he is in the here and now and unable to recall much more?  He has a fantastic long term memory.  I find it difficult to adapt for teacher technigues.

Help, any advice is welcome.

Many thanks

 Puffin

Parents

  • Is dyslexia a factor, eg comorbid with asperger's?

    A major part of dyslexia is short-term memory, whether that means not being able to remember how a sentence you are reading started before you reach the end, or not being able to remember an instruction seconds before trying to act on it.

    Asperger's is more likely to involve better short-term memory, but I don't think there's much clear guidance on this. However memory can be affected by lack of focus, if not interested in what is currently going on.  Is his short term memory good when he is doing something he enjoys?

    In particular sensory-overload could be a factor, if there's too much else going on in his head through worrying about issues that he cannot explain or understand. That would result in tiredness and listlessness.  Is his attention span an issue (ADHD)?

    You could try memory trays. Put some objects on a tray, maybe a dozen different things, varied shapes and sizes. If strongly visual he may remember these better. After a minute or so, take the tray out of sight and ask him to tell you or write down the things on the tray.  You could compare this with a memory for numbers, such as number of same objects, or numbers displayed on objects on the tray.

    There are puzzle books that have spot the difference between pictures - man on the left is wearing one shoe only in left picture, two shoes in right picture. Doing these regularly can improve observation and memory.

    It is a pity "I-spy" books seem to have gone out of fashion....those books with every variety of some type of object - cars, trains, birds, flags, which you couldn't complete unless you lived in the Home Counties. They increase observation and memory, but can lead to bad habits like train spotting.

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  • Is dyslexia a factor, eg comorbid with asperger's?

    A major part of dyslexia is short-term memory, whether that means not being able to remember how a sentence you are reading started before you reach the end, or not being able to remember an instruction seconds before trying to act on it.

    Asperger's is more likely to involve better short-term memory, but I don't think there's much clear guidance on this. However memory can be affected by lack of focus, if not interested in what is currently going on.  Is his short term memory good when he is doing something he enjoys?

    In particular sensory-overload could be a factor, if there's too much else going on in his head through worrying about issues that he cannot explain or understand. That would result in tiredness and listlessness.  Is his attention span an issue (ADHD)?

    You could try memory trays. Put some objects on a tray, maybe a dozen different things, varied shapes and sizes. If strongly visual he may remember these better. After a minute or so, take the tray out of sight and ask him to tell you or write down the things on the tray.  You could compare this with a memory for numbers, such as number of same objects, or numbers displayed on objects on the tray.

    There are puzzle books that have spot the difference between pictures - man on the left is wearing one shoe only in left picture, two shoes in right picture. Doing these regularly can improve observation and memory.

    It is a pity "I-spy" books seem to have gone out of fashion....those books with every variety of some type of object - cars, trains, birds, flags, which you couldn't complete unless you lived in the Home Counties. They increase observation and memory, but can lead to bad habits like train spotting.

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