Compensations to Aid Attention/Concentration

General Principles
1. Reduce environmental noise.
2. Reduce/eliminate distractions.
3. Correct sensory deficits. (eyeglasses, hearing aids, etc.)
4. Make sure room is well lighted.
5. Get involved in activities that stimulate thinking.
6. Do one thing at a time and finish it before moving on to the next task.
7. Highlight when reading.
8. Take notes when listening.
9. Paraphrase information when listening.

Activities That Stimulate Attention

  • Board games
  • Walking/Exercise
  • Crossword puzzles
  • Knitting
  • Playing cards
  • Reading
  • Putting together photo albums
  • Discussion/Conversation
Activities That Erode Attention
Network television vs. Public television


Compensations to Aid Retention/Storage

General Principles: Daily
1. Establish routines and schedules.
2. Organize environment.
3. Minimize changes.
4. Complete one task at a time.
5. Use lists and check off steps as completed.
6. Keep items in consistent locations.
7. Develop a master list of important dates organized by month. Transfer these dates to your daily planner at the beginning of each month.

General Principles: Medical
1. Write down questions you would like to ask your doctor as they arise.
2. During the appointment, write down the answers to these questions.
3. Keep a chronology of medical care. Include dates, name of physician, list of symptoms or reason for the appointment and care/treatment provided.
4. Medications

  • Keep a record of medications, who prescribed them, reason for the medication and dosage. Cross this information off the record when you are no longer taking the medication.
  • Use a medical cassette.
  • Schedule a time to fill the cassette.
  • If you are taking medication at many different times during the day, ask your physician if the medication schedule can be simplified.

Do not discontinue or change your medicine schedule without consulting your physician first.


Compensations to Aid Processing/Understanding

General Principles: Active Listening Skill
1. Ask speaker to slow down.
2. Ask for repetition.
3. Ask for clarification.
4. Ask for additional information.
5. Paraphrase. Repeat information in your own words.

General Principles: Reading
1. Highlight as you read.
2. Ask questions of yourself as you are reading to ensure comprehension.
    i.e. - Who... What... Where... When... How... Why...
3. Write short summary or synopsis of the information after you read
    and keep it in the book for review before the next time you pick up the book.

General Principles: Active Listening Skills
1. Ask speaker to slow down.
2. Ask for repetition.
3. Ask for clarification.
4. Ask for additional information.
5. Paraphrase. Repeat information in your own words.

General Principles: Reading
1. Highlight as you read.
2. Ask questions of yourself as you are reading to ensure comprehension. (Who, what, where, When, How and Why.)
3. Write short summary or synopsis of the information after you read and keep it in the book for review before the next time you pick up the book.
4. Keep a list of characters and their descriptions in the book. Add to it as new characters are introduced or as characters change or develop. 4. Keep a list of characters and their descriptions in the book. Add to it as new characters are introduced or as characters change or develop.
Using a Daily Planner to its Greatest Potential

Benefits of Using a Daily Planner
1. Compensates for memory deficits
2. Improves organization
3. Decreases confusion and misunderstandings
4. Documents and accounts for your time
5. Eliminates missed appointments
6. Helps provide schedules and routines

How to Use Your Daily Planner
1. Use only one system. "Consolidate."
2. Choose a style and size that works best for you.
3. Plan your day in advance whenever possible.
4. List things to do and cross them off when completed.
5. Carry it with you or keep it in a central location at home.

General Principles: Locating Places
1. Use written directions whenever possible.
2. Review directions after you write them down with whoever gave them to you.
3. Write down where you parked your car.
4. Include descriptions of landmarks to help with pathfinding or locating places.

General Principles: Meal Planning
1. Keep a grocery list in a central location. A list can be kept on the refrigerator.
2. Add to the list immediately when items run low.
3. Take the list with you when you shop.
4. When cooking, check off steps or use a marker to indicate where you are in a recipe



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