How to study after a concussion: My go-to strategy
I had two brain injuries while I was in grad school. The first one happened at the end of my second semester. Finals were just around the corner. I was in no shape to study or pass my tests.
My classes were marked “incomplete.” That meant that on top of recovering from a brain injury and going to rehab, I had four finals to make up. It was overwhelming.
Thankfully, I had an awesome speech-language pathologist! She taught me a study strategy that made learning so much easier.
She called it the “multi-modal study strategy” because it uses four different learning modes to make information stick better.
I used this strategy to finish my incomplete classes. It then got me through the rest of grad school. I also pulled it out after grad school when I took my test to become a Certified Brain Injury Specialist, and for Yoga Teacher Training.
I now teach this to all of my patients who are in school, from high school to med school. Almost everyone now uses this strategy because it is so helpful!
Multi-modal study strategy
There are four steps: Gather, preview, set-up, test, and practice.
Gather your supplies
Get large index cards and a pen.
Get your class materials (textbook, study guide, notes, etc.).
Get a white board and dry erase marker if you can.
Preview the test materials
Check your study guide or testing information to see what will be on the test.
Skim your notes to refresh your memory about big concepts.
Notice if you are missing any information. Maybe your notes are missing a section. Complete your notes before moving on.
Set-up your index cards
Read a small section of the material. Then write key concepts on an index card.
Include a title or question on the front of the note card and the answers/details on the back.
Test your memory
Test your memory. See if you can recall and explain the information on the card without looking at the back of the card. Don’t just think about it! Talk out loud even if it feels funny.
I recommend using a white board for this part. Write down key words/phrases as you explain the information, just like a teacher would.
Check the card to make sure you covered everything. Star/highlight/underline any information you forgot. Say that information out loud several times, then turn the card over and teach the card again. Repeat this process until you are confident that you know the information.
Continue filling out cards for all of the information covered on the test. Take breaks as needed!
Practice until you know it
Continue to test your memory by “teaching” the information. Teaching the information accesses visual, auditory, verbal, and kinesthetic learning modes. This helps the information stick faster.
Gradually increase the amount of time in-between each review. Continue until you feel confident that you know the material.
Next Steps:
Make a few note cards to try out this strategy. Then think about what you liked or didn’t like about it.
Modify the strategy so it works for you. For example, some people choose to use digital note cards instead of paper ones. Some people teach the information to a friend or family member instead of teaching it to themselves.
Make modifications, but don’t take out the “teaching” part even if you are tempted! Saying the information out loud and then checking your memory really helps you learn it better.
This strategy is effective but time consuming! You probably won’t use it for every test. Reserve it for important tests with a lot of hard information.
Happy studying!