Children with memory difficulties might demonstrate problems in different areas of the memory. Children can struggle with their long-term memory, short-term memory or their working memory.

Long-term memory is referred to as knowledge or information that has been stored for a long period of time. If a child struggles with long-term memory difficulties they may need to review and study information for a longer period of time to get the information to become as basic knowledge for the child.

Short-term memory refers to the location where information goes for a short amount of time until it is not required or is forgotten. A child that has short-term memory difficulties will struggle because the information disappears before they are able to copy it from one location to another.

Working memory refers to the location where information is stored for a brief time period in order to perform a task or activity. Working memory helps the child to hold onto key information until it is needed to finish a thought or task. A child that struggles with working memory might have forgotten the first task by the time the teacher has given full instructions.