Can’t Remember Your Words?
Written by: Anna Pasternak / Communication Coaching / April 14, 2021 / 8 minutes read
Are you sometimes talking and all of a sudden you blank because the word you are trying to use just isn’t coming to mind? Well, this is something we call word finding or word retrieval. Having difficulties finding words is something that happens to everyone at some point or another. If you find yourself to typically be a good communicator, you may be having difficulties with word finding when trying to use words that you often don’t use. Think of your brain as a filing cabinet. We have thousands of words stored in our brains that we have heard and/or used in the past. The words that we don’t use as often are stored in the deep back part of the filing cabinet (brain) where it is not that easily accessible. The words we use more often are closer to the front and more easily accessible, which is why we have no problems retrieving these words.
Sometimes it can become more difficult to retrieve words in situations that are more stressful, or we are more nervous/anxious in. This happens because when we are anxious that anxiety is often felt in the body. Whether it be tension, breath holding, heart rate racing, or sweating. When we are anxious this can also cause us not to think as clearly as we may have many other things racing through our mind, and the response the anxiety has on our body causes us to blank at times. One step to help avoid word finding difficulties is working on anxiety reducing strategies such as breathing, mindfulness, and muscle relaxation techniques. Word finding difficulties are also found in those that have had strokes or other brain injuries which these strategies can also be useful depending on the severity of their injury.
One step to help avoid word finding difficulties is working on anxiety reducing strategies such as breathing, mindfulness, and muscle relaxation techniques.
Strategies for word finding
Start a list of words that you often have trouble retrieving and make a point to use them daily. The more you use them, the more forward they will get pushed in the filing cabinet for easier retrieval in the future.
Synonyms - think of synonyms for the word that you are often missing. You may find that there is a different word that you already use or is easier for you to retrieve.
Visualization - visualization of the word that you want to use whether it be an object/action/ emotion . This can also help you with describing to the other person what it is you are trying to say.
Description - if you can’t think of the word describe it. Working on knowing how to describe things appropriately, you can still communicate what it is you are trying to say.
Associations - if having trouble with a certain words, it is good to form associations that can help you remember. For example: if you are constantly mixing up the words lemon and lime instead of thinking of those words on their own think ‘yellow-lemon’ and ‘green-lime’ the colour can act as a reminder to the word that will come after.
Categorizing - if the word you are trying to say belongs to a certain category for example you are trying to think of ‘lion’ but only ‘tiger’ is coming to mind . Think of the category it belongs to instead. For example, lions live in the African savannah, think of animals from the same region such a giraffe, elephant, hippo…. This can help retrieve the word you are searching for.
Phonemic cues - sometimes trying to think of the first sound or actually physically producing the first sound or sounds of the word makes it easier to retrieve.
Words that sound the same - thinking of words that sound similar can be helpful in retrieving the word you are looking for. When in conversation the other person we are talking to may also be able to help you retrieve a word once you have given them enough information.
To speak with one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation by clicking the link below or calling (647) 795-5277.
