Question:
Often in my practice I see patients with MS who are having problems with their memory and they want to know what they can do about it. Here are specific things that many people have found to be very helpful:
Expert Answer:
1. Get a Day Planner that has each hour of the day broken out. For example it says:
Monday 8:00 AM____________ 9:00 AM _____________.
- Write down ALL the things you need to do: appointments scheduled, telephone calls to make, your grocery list, when to pick up the kids, etc. The important thing is TO INCLUDE EVERYTHING—THE MORE THE BETTER.
- In the front of the planner make a telephone list—write down everyone's number, even the numbers you know by heart, as well as the number to your doctors, plumber, kids, etc.
- Keep your planner with you AT ALL TIMES.
- Review the planner at the beginning, middle, and end OF EACH DAY.
2. Get a small spiral note book that fits into your pocket. Stick a pen in it. Use this throughout your day to write down all the new little details of your day. For ex: the name of the person who just called you, or what you need to do later that afternoon.
- If you write something down, it is not forgotten!
- If are having trouble writing, get a small digital Dictaphone that you keep with you at all times.
- At the beginning and end of each day review your Day Planner as well as your spiral notebook.
The point of doing all this is no different than wearing glasses if your eyesight is poor. Writing everything down is an effective way of coping with memory problems.
Meet Jonas Horwitz, PhD.
E-mail the experts your question.