I want to work but I can't follow directions at all.

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This is the only thing I haet is that I can't follow directions.

I think a job such as working fast food is harder, in absolute terms, than a job such as working as an architect. Hopefully, as a young architect you'll get a boss who's more of a coach, a work environment that is more goal oriented and not so rule oriented, etc.

But I mean in general like when someone says look around for something I can't find it or if they point at something I can't find it plus I can't retain anything spoken to me.

I think I might go to the doctor soon, like they will be able to do anything about it though.

People generallly don't give good directions. Even how to get to the bathroom, people give overly complicated directions. I have learned to say, 'It's in that far corner of the store.' To the point, more accurate, much more robust, just keep going till you find the corner. I sometimes add a sympathetic 'I'm sorry,' meaning I'm sorry it has to be the far corner.

And I also notice, like when co-workers give directions to the tailoring place, I think some of them are just repeating the directions they have heard others give. That is, they've never really been there, they don't know the landmarks, they can't kind of ping-pong back and forth in terms of a conversation.

And that's okay. They kind of know the standard official party-line answer. And if I know that going in, I won't be thrown by their inability to respond to a question (and they don't want to be embarrassed, so they just repeat the party-line answer as if I'm being stupid or something, it can make for an awkward, unsatisfying exchange in which I'm wondering what I did wrong.) Yes, yes, all this just for directions.

Play poker.

Seriously, there are a lot of things you can do besides the standard job.

If you tend to have auditory processing challenges and have trouble retaining new information as a result, I'd recommend using a small taperecorder or similar device while you are being trained or oriented for a new job. That way you can take down notes easily and refer to them later, in order to follow the directions step-by-step.

If you tend to learn better when people model a task, rather than explaining it to you verbally, and that is why it's hard to follow directions, maybe you should consider working with a job coach. In most states, job coaching services can be funded through your local Office of Vocational Rehab.