Rehabilitation of Memory

For centuries scholars have studied memory: its powers, its potential, and its variability. It is only recently, however, that efforts have been made to find practical methods of helping people who have severe memory disorders. In this relatively new, and as yet undeveloped field, REHABILITATION OF MEMORY offers important information and guidelines to those interested and involved in memory therapy.
Dr. Barbara Wilson makes no hasty claims about restoration of lost memory functioning, nor does she claim to retrain memory. Recognizing that such unreal promises can only frustrate patients and disappoint their families, she instead focuses on what specific items such patients can learn, how best they can learn, and how to assess the effectiveness of their learning. An essential aspect of this work is that the information gained will prove useful to patients in their daily lives and will enhance their chances of coping with real life situations. The approach, while being well informed by theory, remains a practical one with relevance to the everyday lives of people with memory disorders.

Influenced by the three major disciplines of cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, and behavioral psychology, Wilson draws from each to inform her work with those who are impeded by organic memory disorders. The therapy she describes is structured upon frameworks that are themselves built upon unique and ingenious combinations of theories from all three of these disciplines. Using this multi-discipline approach, she also demonstrates how to assess memory problems for rehabilitation and produce a comprehensive plan of action. Reflecting an overall concern for the individuals in treatment, an essential ingredient of this approach is the implementation of rigorous research designs to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Relevant to a variety of professions, clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, and neuropsychologists working with the memory impaired will gain an understanding of various techniques that can be employed to help their patients. Occupational and speech therapists will learn practical measures to help with their patient's specific memory problems and academic psychologists will appreciate the theoretical support that has been advanced by Dr. Wilson in her search for effective treatment programs.