Long term Memory

[Michedu]

I have a question about Long Term Memory. To have a problem with short term memory can mean a Learning disablitiy, but what if short term memory is high average but there is a defficet in long term memory?

What does that mean?

Does anyone know ???

Thank you!
michedu

[Mr. H]

Anything that interferes with memory could qualify as a learning disability, I think. You'd have to ask a Special Resource or a school Psych to be certain.

[Unregistered]

I have a question about Long Term Memory. To have a problem with short term memory can mean a Learning disablitiy, but what if short term memory is high average but there is a defficet in long term memory?

What does that mean?

Does anyone know ???

Thank you!
michedu

I'm sorry what was the question?

[Unregistered]

I'll try to answer this but each state has a different wording and this responce is really over simplified: A learning disability can be defined as a discrepancy between intelligence and academics OR within cognitive areas. So any neurological function that is significantly differnt when compared to other areas, say left vs. right brain functions, verbal vs. nonverbal and STM vs. LTM, COULD possibly indicate a learning disability. But there are more criteria that must be satisfied to be eligible for services. For example, I have a kid on my case load whose only average IQ score (out of four sub areas on this particular assessment) is in Spatial Ability, all other areas are borderline or low average. I hope that helps to clarify.

[labooks]

I understand your concerns, but sometimes labels do almost as much harm as good. (Not always. Not always!) The more a person thinks of himself or herself as "that" label, the more he or she acts according to perceptions of that label.

Before retirement, I was in the labeling "business" as a school psychologist. I first heard the concern about labels verbalized by a psychiatrist in a mental health center in the early 1970's. This was long before we started labeling so many children. My concern about labels is why I had no hesitation about naming my website, Learning Abilities Books (http://www.learningbooks.net). The site has many free lessons for helping to improve long term memory in vocabulary, spelling, correcting reversals, visual memory, etc. There are other resources including books for children about handicaps. (I prefer the term "handicap" instead of "disability.")

Keep in mind that although learning strategies are very helpful to special educational students, they also benefit any student at any age. Ah, that includes adults. We need to be allowed to spend more time teaching all students about how to learn. Although many schools have lessons about study skills, research shows that the most effective study skill instruction happens when it is part of the regular subject and not a separate lesson. In other words, "Here is what you need to learn and here is a good way to remember it."

Betsy Lee