You may have been hearing more these days about “working memory” but maybe you aren’t so sure what that term means.  Our “memory” is a very complex cognitive ability that involves multiple aspects.  Because of the complexity of memory, there is a lot of confusion in the lay community - and among many professionals! – regarding what “working memory” actually is. 

Working memory is our ability to hold information in our heads (“online”) for brief periods of time so that we can use that information in some immediate way.  The simplest example would be looking up a phone number and remembering it long enough to dial it correctly.  Both adults and kids do countless tasks every day that depend on working memory:  following instructions and conversations; reading comprehension; mental arithmetic; writing reports; completing homework assignments; organizing our day and our stuff; etc., etc.. 

For those with AD/HD, working memory is often weak.  Many neuroscientists now believe that many of the symptoms of AD/HD are a direct result of the weakness of this crucial cognitive ability.   

If you would like to learn more about this crucial cognitive ability, follow this link.   You can test your own working memory as well as see what recent research is teaching us about how to strengthen our working memory:
http://www.aboutworkingmemory.com/index.php?
option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=42

If you would like to learn more about how to strengthen your child’s working memory, or your own, give us a call here at ADD Austin.