by Tamiko Teshima, M.A., CCC-SLP
Practice Owner and Speech-Language Pathologist
Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC
When we think about memory, we often oversimplify it, thinkin we either we have a “good memory” or a “bad memory.” The truth is, memory is complex, multi-layered, and deeply tied to how we function in daily life.
As speech-language pathologists, we often work with individuals who have difficulty with one or more aspects of memory, especially after a brain injury, stroke, illness, or with neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative conditions. Understanding the different types of memory is the first step in knowing where someone may need support.
Here’s a quick overview of the main types of memory:
- Short-Term Memory: This is your brain’s sticky note. Short-term memory allows you to hold a small amount of information for a short period—typically just seconds to a minute. For example, remembering a phone number long enough to dial it.
- Working Memory: Working memory is like a mental workbench. It helps you hold and manipulate information at the same time. You use working memory when you do math in your head, follow multi-step directions, or participate in conversations.
- Long-Term Memory: This is your brain’s filing cabinet—information stored here can last for days, years, or even a lifetime. Long-term memory includes:
- Semantic memory: Memory for facts and general knowledge (e.g., knowing that Paris is the capital of France)
- Episodic memory: Memory for personal experiences and events (e.g., remembering your last birthday party)
- Procedural Memory: Procedural memory is your “how-to” memory. It’s what helps you remember how to do tasks that become automatic over time, like riding a bike, typing, or brushing your teeth. These memories are often deeply ingrained and can stay intact even when other types of memory are affected. Often in dementia patients, they are still able to do activities from procedural memory, like crochet stitching, using utensils, or practiced gestures (like waving, etc.).
- Prospective Memory: This is your ability to remember to do things in the future, like taking medication at a specific time or showing up for an appointment. Difficulty with prospective memory can impact independence in daily life.
- Metamemory: Metamemory is your awareness of your own memory. It helps you recognize when you’ve forgotten something, when you need to use a reminder, or when to double-check your work. It’s essentially your memory about your memory.
Why This Matters
When someone struggles with memory, it’s important to figure out which type of memory is affected. Thist tells us how to support them. Strategies that help with short-term memory might not work for procedural or prospective memory, and vice versa.
Whether you’re supporting a loved one or noticing changes in your own memory, understanding these different types can provide clarity. More importantly, it can open the door to good support!
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