Random Working Memory question

[akafred]

This is probably nothing but I found it interesting. When DD was evaluated a year and a half ago, her scores were all over the place (and she was extremely uncooperative), but her Working Memory was the lowest of all subtests and she was rated at 12th percentile. I have noticed some trouble with working memory, especially ability to follow multi step directions or to do more complicated tasks. I've been trying to help "stretch" this some; for example: If she asks to spell a word, I give her the full word or, if very long, at least 4-5 letters at a time. (DH feeds her one letter at a time, which is fine but just explaining what I mean by trying to stretch it.

Three separate people this week, all teachers at a school for kids with learning and attention issues, have approached me to tell me that DD is amazing at the match game Memory. 3 people, 2 different days, so it must stand out as being really good. This is a function of Working Memory, right? When I think back, she was always pretty good at that game. But it's visual and tactile with cards, whereas the test was probably auditory, right? She does have (C)APD.

Is there anything to be gleaned from this, or it's not really valid info?

[mightymaude]

My DD has low working memory also, but has always excelled at Memory and similar games (she kicks ass at bingo/zingo because she can memorize her entire board, and sometimes memorizes everyone's boards). Her low working memory is directly related to anxiety though. It drops when she is stressed. Obviously when playing a fun game, she isn't feeling pressured and does well. I know your DD has anxiety as well, and it sounds like the evaluation wasn't exactly a fun experience for her, so perhaps it is related?

[akafred]

mightymaude, it probably is anxiety related then. I knew processing speed can be negatively impacted by anxiety but didn't realize it impacted Working Memory also. Makes sense why she would score so poorly and perform average or better in a game.

[waverly]

I don’t know if this has any relevance at all but I was wondering if it also was an inducator of her being more of a visual learner than an auditory learner especially with her auditory issue.

[akafred]

Jun 28, 2018 19:46:10 GMT -5 waverly said:

I don’t know if this has any relevance at all but I was wondering if it also was an inducator of her being more of a visual learner than an auditory learner especially with her auditory issue.

That is where my mind went too.

[auntie]

Jun 28, 2018 19:46:10 GMT -5 waverly said:

I don’t know if this has any relevance at all but I was wondering if it also was an inducator of her being more of a visual learner than an auditory learner especially with her auditory issue.

Not necessarily.

It is a given that all children with better than low vision will better visual processing than auditory processing. But about age 4-6, most kids will process visual information as well as they ever will- it is fully mature at this age. Auditory processing lags even in well developing children. You wouldn't expect this to mature until about puberty.

One thing that complicates that is the tendency for humans to rely on that which is easiest for them and in doing so, they maintain the visual skills while not working to improve their auditory processing as a way to take in information. 

Learning style, does not necessarily match where a person has their strengths. 

Years ago Temple Grandin wrote something about people with autism "thinking in pictures" and being visual learners. Every idiot teacher DS had over the years glommed onto this concept and told me my kid is a "visual learner". Because, I've like, never taught him anything or watched what channels he uses to learn. BTW, Dr. Grandin has since apologized for speaking so broadly. 

DS was able to commit half hour TV shows to memory, he is an excellent mimic, he used to memorize his music by the notes he heard rather than slide positions or transcribed music. 

As always, YMMV.