Many children have a short-term memory problem because they have attention deficit disorder, a neurobiological disorder that makes staying focused for a reasonable amount of time nearly impossible. A child with this condition not only will fail to pay attention and adequately apply himself to schoolwork, but also will be unable to recall simple scholastic information. Other symptoms of ADD are appearing to be regularly "tuned out," reluctant to complete classroom assignments and disinterested in learning.
A properly functioning auditory memory allows a child to hear information, understand what she hears, store the information and recall it at a later time. For example, a parent reads a story to her child before before bed. The child then listens and visualizes the story that is being told. When the story is completed, she remembers what happened in the story and the next morning shares the plot with her friends. A child with poor auditory memory will have difficulty in learning how to read and remembering oral directions.
Working memory is what allows you to store information in your mind and manipulate it mentally. This brain function is how you are able to calculate everyday math problems and develop problem-solving skills. A child with a poor working memory can easily be labeled as inattentive and lacking in intelligence.
Some children are able to remember various academic concepts, yet fail to remember simple mathematical skills. This short-term memory problem, known as dyscalculia, is specifically hindering in the area of math. Dyscalculia also stems from an inability to visually process information.
Symptoms of this condition are confusion with similarly shaped numbers, poor name and face recollection, and problems with remembering rules.