Memory deficits

This chapter begins with a discussion about the common characteristics of people with memory deficits resulting from brain injury followed by a description of a typical patient referred for memory rehabilitation. We then address some general principles to help people with memory deficits. These principles include ways of improving encoding, storage, and retrieval. The next section addresses more specific strategies to help people (a) cope without a memory through environmental modifications, (b) learn more efficiently (particularly through errorless learning strategies), and (c) compensate for their problems through external memory aids. A memory aids resource center is described. The impact of memory impairment on emotions is considered. A summary of the main components of a memory rehabilitation program is provided. The overall conclusion is that rehabilitation can help people to compensate for, bypass, or reduce their everyday problems and thus survive more efficiently in their own most appropriate environments.