MEMORY
Memory involves many parts of the brain , and if a brain aneurysm rupture or treatment damages any of those areas , your memory will be affected .
Survivors of ruptured aneurysms usually do not remember the event or much of what happened in the hospital , and never will . This can be disconcerting but is normal .
Many survivors regain their ability to remember as they continue to heal , while some continue to have difficulty with short-term or working memory for years . Survivors might remember events from ten years ago but cannot seem to remember who called yesterday or where they put their keys .
Absorbing , storing , and recalling information are some of the challenges survivors face after a rupture or treatment of a brain aneurysm . Learning new material in general may be difficult . Some have difficulty with something called prospective memory , which is the ability to remember future events . Here are several strategies for coping with these issues .
To help absorb information :
• Link — associate new information with old information .
• Simplify — avoid sensory and language overload . Shorten sentences for easier understanding ; break up large pieces of information in order to focus better .
• Use apps that help with memory or record new information on your smartphone . Write down notes or memos to help jog your memory .
To help store information :
• Repeat and rehearse — immediately after someone says something or you learn something new , repeat it to yourself . Then wait a few minutes , and repeat it again to see if you remember .
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