Verbal Memory Exercises for Speech Therapy Month

Multiple types of memory help shape our lives through how we learn, socialize, and carry out our daily routines. The ability to use and understand language is known as verbal memory. As a clinician, it is important to include exercises that strengthen all types of memory with your clients. Why is verbal memory so important, and what are the different exercises we can use to help our clients grow as much as possible?

What is Verbal Memory?

Verbal memory is the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information that is presented in verbal form, whether written or spoken. This could include recalling words, sentences, people’s names, stories, and any other information expressed through writing or speech. When we remember a book we read or a conversation with a coworker, we are using verbal memory. It is related to both episodic memory, the ability to recall specific events, experiences, or information in chronological order, and explicit memory, which is information we have memorized for a specific purpose, such as an address or grocery list.

Types of Verbal Memory

Long-term verbal memory

The process of consolidating and storing verbal information over a long period of time. This is necessary to remember facts, skills, experiences, vocabulary, and other information from the past.

Short-term verbal memory

Temporarily holds verbal information, from a few seconds to a few minutes. This can include recalling someone’s name just after being introduced to them.

Working verbal memory

A type of short-term memory, working memory refers to the brain’s ability to temporarily hold and process verbal information simultaneously. It lets you hold verbal information in your mind, such as a word, sentence, or number, while mentally processing it to accomplish a task. An example could be remembering the directions someone just told you long enough to write them down.

Why Practice Verbal Memory With Your Clients?

Verbal memory practice is necessary in your work with clients for many reasons. Allowing clients to strengthen their language processing improves their cognition, literacy, numeracy, reasoning, and academic success. Working with clients on their verbal memory can help to prevent learning disabilities, improve academic performance and reading comprehension, and foster better communication skills.

Exercises to use with clients

There is a wide variety of exercises to use with clients, to address different aspects of language.

Playing word exercises: Engaging in cognitive exercises that incorporate verbal memory can improve memory and cognition. These exercises are adjustable, allowing them to focus on specific skills and tailor the difficulty level to each individual.

Reading aloud and regularly: Consuming books and other written materials can improve your cognition by introducing the brain to new ideas and vocabulary.

Mnemonic devices: Training with methods such as rhymes, acronyms, and visualizations can help clients memorize information.

Music training: A 2021 study found that verbal memory improved among participants who engaged in musical improvisation. Music is also a mnemonic device, allowing people to remember information such as the alphabet, the order of presidents, and the capitals of states for long periods of time. 

Recall: Regularly recalling previously learned verbal information, such as remembering past conversations or reciting poems, can benefit memory.

Learning a new language: This improves your memory by forcing the brain to learn and remember new grammar, syntax, and vocabulary.

Examples of Verbal Memory Exercises from Happyneuron

Words Where Are You

In this exercise, the user memorizes words and their locations on a grid, then recalls them. It engages verbal, visual, and spatial memory skills used when remembering streets or countries on a map.

Restaurant

In this exercise, the user must remember the orders of guests seated around a table, including drinks, main dishes, sides, and desserts. The user must accurately deliver each order, engaging visual and working memory as it involves both verbal (orders) and spatial (positions) information. The skills used are similar to recalling a short to-do list, a friend’s drink order, or which gifts to plan to give to certain people.

Elephant Memory

In this exercise, the user memorizes a list of words and then recalls them from several lists. The left temporal lobe, involved in perception, sound processing, comprehension, naming, verbal memory, and language functions like understanding word meanings, plays a central role. Elephant Memory requires remembering and locating words in a list, similar to recalling a shopping list, tasks, or a product name.

Conclusion

Verbal memory is vital to human cognition, enabling communication, learning, and environmental engagement. Using strategies to strengthen this skill with your clients can improve language and communication skills, academic and career success, and support overall cognitive health.