Angel,

You need to remind her that most true valuable education is not about memorizing the answers but about learning how to find the answers. Our school systems have had it wrong since modern testing was designed back ion the 1940's by a man named Benjamin Bloom. He created Bloom's Taxonomy to create categories of achievement that can be measured to demonstrate the achievement of 'GET THIS,' not the student, but the teacher. Most standardized testing is to gauge the teaching system not the students ability to learn.

There are many different ways to learn. There was a book written back in the late 1980's called Teaching Tips and Techniques. It was sold by the Weaver Curriculum people. It is very good at helping you discover how your child learns. It helped my wife immensely with our middle child (B). She is a very hands on learner. The pros said she needed 'Multi-Sensory Learning', she needed to combine sight, sound, and touch to learn best. Your daughter may be the same.

When B was in Surg Tech school, she struggled with the classroom 'book' learning. When she got into the practical, she surged ahead, so much so that she was offered her pick of hospitals for her internship. She chose Trippler in Honolulu. She also excelled there. She was offered opportunities to scrub in to spinal/neuro surgeries, do suturing, and other tasks normally reserved for a much higher level of training and qualifications.

When B was preparing to deploy to Iraq, the Surg Techs in her unit were all retrained as Combat Medics. They were trained along side the Combat Medics who had taken a 28 week course previously. The Surg Techs only got a 21 day Combat Medic refresher course with the Combat Medics. She aced it and was selected to accompany the General when he went outside the wire.

This is all to say that when you hone in on your daughter's best methods of learning and she recognizes it too, she will do very well. Her perfectionism may be a hindrance for a while but over time, hopefully she will learn to lighten up on herself.

With the subjects like History, could she instead of studying to a test, write reports about the events? This may be more in her mode of understanding. The open book test is also not to be discounted. They are usually much more intense than a closed book test. Again, they are about how accomplished the student is at finding the information, not memorizing facts and trivia.

An issue I have a serious difficulty with relates to history. I have lost most of my ability to index things chronologically. I may remember something happened but have no idea in what order or when it happened. This is not an uncommon symptom of brain injury. You would be wise to determine if she has such a problem. You don't want to expect a skill that is just not there.

As she goes through everyday life, encourage her to research anything she is unfamiliar with. The internet is a fabulous way to broaden one's mind. She can research her specific symptoms, those of her friend who was shot in the head, an issue that is mentioned on the news, etc. Developing an inquisitive mind with a strong sense of how to find answers will hopefully overcome any sense of special treatment or disability she may feel. When she can knowledgeably converse with adults, she will grow and mature in amazing
ways.

You mentioned her IQ issues. They can be a conundrum for the brain injured. I have always had a high IQ. Probably like your daughters at 14. I still test in the 128 to 140's range but my delayed recall is in the 5 to 12% range. The neuro-psychs tend to say this high IQ means I have minimal cognitive dysfunctions regardless of the memory scores. What they fail to consider is that high IQ with low memory scores are a strong indicator of organic brain injury, not an indicator of a lazy mind.

Don't let her think her memory struggles will cause her to be less intelligent. She will just need to find other ways of expressing her intelligence. For me, I sound much less intelligent when talking verbally. If I type my thoughts, I can use the monitor to help me stay in the thought and be much more expressive of my ideas. Her recall struggles may cause a similar struggle for her.

Regarding her friend who was shot, she needs to remember that a gun shot wound is very focused in the damage it causes to the brain. A blunt trauma to the brain causes a more global injury with a broader range of symptoms.

Regarding her stubbornness, try to find some information about how a brain injury can cause "rigidity of thought." I think Dr Johnson's Guide mentions this symptom. I need to remember that I can become very rigid in my thinking and have chose to allow or defer to my wife to help me let go of some of my stubborn ideas.

If she can come to terms with the idea that sometimes, it is her injury that is being stubborn and choose to let go, her life and relationships will benefit. This is probably one of the most difficult symptoms to live with, whether as the subject/patient or the friends and family. Maybe she can make some note cards or signs for her room and mirror that encourage her to defer when she is feeling stubborn.

'nough said for tonight.

My best to you both.