Spaced Retrieval for Memory Loss Part 1: Screenings, Development, and Support

Course overview

Speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists often lack evidence-based interventions that assist people with memory impairment to compensate for their loss. More specifically, helping people with dementia can be challenging and can sometimes leave a clinician feeling like nothing can be done at all. Thankfully, spaced retrieval and its theoretical underpinnings have been researched and proven superior for improving memory for new or previously known information for more than 200 years. The keys are to understand why and how the modality works, set up the treatment correctly, and remain consistent with delivery. At times, the modality can be too difficult or too easy for patients, but the flexibility of spaced retrieval also offers proven changes to improve outcomes. In Part 1 of this series, clinicians will gain understanding of why spaced retrieval works based on the physiology of memory. They will learn how to identify those who will benefit from the intervention through a screening and will understand how to set the intervention up for success through demonstrations and form examples to assist with learning and implementation.