Finding Things

Tips and Tricks

We all forget where we have put things at times, and this may get worse when we are stressed or tired. But sometimes MS itself can mean that our attention wanders just for the moment when we put down our car keys, and then something else crops up and we never really register that we left them on the kitchen worktop. Keeping track of all of our actions and decisions can be a tough call.

Have a set place for everything (your glasses, your car keys) and always put these essential items in their set place.
At key times during your day (returning from an outing, before going to bed) check important items are in their set places.
If keeping things in different set places doesn’t work, have one place to collect important things, such as a canvas tidy over the kitchen door with lots of pockets for glasses, car keys, bills to pay, letters to post etc. you could label the pockets.
If remembering to check items doesn’t work, have a list of important items handy, perhaps by the front door or on the fridge, and check through at a set point time each day (after your evening meal for example) that all are in their set places
If you want to keep your important things in different places and the list isn’t enough to help you remember, make a list of items and locations e.g. car keys in handbag, wallet in coat pocket, or draw a map of the house with important items marked on locations.
You may also want to use this list or map before you go out, either routinely or when you have an important journey to make like going to a wedding, to check that you have everything you need for the day
Bag insert (commercially available, holds all essential items and transfers them from handbag to handbag or briefcase to shopper).

Gadgets and Gizmos

These details are supplied for information only, not by way of endorsement. Items are usually available from several retailers and items are often made by several manufacturers. The MS Trust cannot guarantee that these items are available, or suitable for any individual and accepts no responsibility or liability with regard to their usage.

Electronic locator for lost keys, wallets, glasses, mobile phones etc.

3 mini remote colour coded receivers with keyring and sticky pad to attach to items such as keys, glasses, television remote controls. Small handheld portable transmitter base with 3 coloured buttons allows you to press the coloured button that matches the lost item (you can put stickers with names on to remind you). If the item is within 30 metres, it will bleep loudly to lead you to it.

Radio frequency keyfinder

Set of receiver keyring and credit-card sized key-find card to attach to keys. When keys are lost, press key-find card and the receiver will bleep and flash to show you where your keys are.

Flashing keyfinder

Just whistle and the keyfinder will beep and flash, if you are within 25 feet.

Haircare bag

Lots of pockets and sections for hairdryer, tongs, hairspray, brush, bobbles and clips. Includes heatproof sock to store just-used straighteners. Front part poppers off as smaller bag for travel etc.

Hanging organizer

Hanging organizer, will fit over room or wardrobe door. Many sizes are available.

Other Important Influences

There are a number of outside factors that might make your mental skills less efficient:

Having an infection, or being otherwise unwell. If this is the case, seek medical advice
Some drugs given for MS symptom management, including drugs for continence management and spasticity. If you think this may be the case for you, discuss with your doctor
Fatigue has been shown to affect mental skills in MS. Cognitive fatigue has more impact than physical fatigue on mental efficiency. Repeating the same mental task over and over again is especially vulnerable to fatigue in MS. You may find varying your mental tasks, taking breaks, being rested and choosing your best time of day all help. You are also less likely to employ your preparation and strategies when you are feeling fatigued, which reduces how well you can manage your cognitive difficulties.
Download 'MS Trust Publication living with Fatigue'
Anxiety may affect your mental performance, especially if you are “on the spot” and feeling tense. Try to stay relaxed and work round the immediate block.
Depression in MS reduces performance on cognitive tasks that need a lot of concentration. It seems to take up capacity (“thinking space in your brain”) with worries and recurrent bleak thoughts. Like fatigue, depression can also reduce your motivation to employ strategies to manage your cognitive difficulties. Because depression gives people a negative view of the world, you are also likely to view your cognitive difficulties as worse than they are and underestimate the effectiveness of your management strategies. If you think that you may be suffering from low mood or depression, seek medical advice.

Professional Help

If your major difficulty is finding things, then your health professional may want to determine what aspect of mental skill is underlying the problem. For example,

It may be a problem with concentration, that is your mind wanders and that gap in concentration means you miss where you put down your specs (for example). A successful strategy might be to alert yourself with a certain word or phrase when you place an item, then “snapshot” a picture to store in your mind of the object in the place you have left it.
Or it may be that the map of your world in your head, including the map of the rooms in your house, is not working as well as it used to. Ways to strengthen the map and make your recall of it more reliable will be developed.

MS Trust Publications

Cognition Factsheet

This factsheet describes the range of cognitive problems that can occur with MS difficulties with short-term memory, concentration, verbal fluency - and discusses ways to approach managing the various problems.

Cognition problems chatroom Transcript

Transcript of an open forum chatroom where issues raised about cognitive problems are answered by health professionals. The views expressed by participants are not necessarily those of the MS Trust.

More general information about MS

MS explained

MS Explained is a book for anyone who wants to understand the mechanisms of MS and what is causes symptoms to occur.

It describes the immune system and the central nervous system and then explains how MS is thought to cause them to malfunction and the symptoms that result.

MS: what does it mean for me?

If you have recently been diagnosed with MS, you will almost certainly have a number of questions about how it will affect your life.

In our experience, one of the best ways of learning to adjust to your new circumstances is to have access to clear and accurate information. This booklet provides a practical introduction to MS to help you to maintain a positive attitude to managing your MS.

At work with MS

The book considers some of the ways in which MS might affect work, the protection afforded under the Disability Discrimination Act and what adjustments can be made for a successful working life with MS.

Tips for living With MS

A compilation of nearly 150 useful ideas sent in by people with MS. The book contains practical suggestions on saving time and energy, getting around, making the most of benefits and getting equipped and more. There is also an extensive section of contact details for useful organisations.

Living with fatigue

Fatigue is one of the commonest symptoms of MS and can have a major impact on daily life. Living With Fatigue was written in conjunction with an MS specialist occupational therapist and illustrated with comments by people with MS who know what it is like to live with the symptom.

Open Door

Quarterly newsletter that contains articles news and research relevant to people living with MS and their families.

Practical management of cognitive impairments associated with MS

Patrick Carroll, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, Gosport War Memorial Hospital, Gosport Way Ahead 2004;8(2):4-5.

Involving Family and Friends

If you are having difficulty finding things and would like to put some of the tips we suggest into practise, it is likely that the people around you will notice what you are doing. This might be a good time to tell them about your experiences. If they are close family members at home, you could ask for their help in checking diary entries for the next day, or reminder sticky notes being in the right places. This will help them to share your experiences and be able to support you and offer suggestions to make finding things even easier.

Research

Cognitive Difficulties

There are a number of studies which show that some people with MS do have difficulty with remembering positions and places. The cognitive skill shown to be weak is called “spatial memory” (literally where things are in the space around you and in relation to each other). The studies rely on abstract tasks (e.g. counters on a grid). They may not be closely linked to real life experience.

Rehabilitation

There are no cognitive rehabilitation studies in MS that specifically address finding things.