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Anyone else hate step-by-step instructions?

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ImeldaJace
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17 Jul 2014, 3:15 pm

I really really need step by step instructions, but if given verbally I need to be given them one at a time or else I get confused and am liable to forget all of them or mix them up. I find it's helpful if the person explains what I need to do in general terms first and then give me step by step instructions. But when written down, I can just refer back to the piece of paper after each step.

But give step my step instructions for math related things like geometry proofs? Forget about it! You might as well be speaking Swahili.


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Eloa
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17 Jul 2014, 3:53 pm

nyxjord wrote:
Is someone verbally telling me instructions? Because that won't work. My mind will get all confused and when I try to remember, it will forget steps and put them out of order.. ugh! Honestly, the best way to convey instructions to me is to show me (that's the best way I learn).. or failing that, write down EXTREMELY detailed instructions.


Verbally is not working for me either.
Showing is good and I have a piece of paper and draw what to, with signs that I understand, then seeing the paper I can easily recall.


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17 Jul 2014, 4:05 pm

i NEED step by step instructions, if i dont have all the steps included in a process i wont know what to do


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ImeldaJace
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17 Jul 2014, 4:31 pm

Eloa wrote:
nyxjord wrote:
Is someone verbally telling me instructions? Because that won't work. My mind will get all confused and when I try to remember, it will forget steps and put them out of order.. ugh! Honestly, the best way to convey instructions to me is to show me (that's the best way I learn).. or failing that, write down EXTREMELY detailed instructions.


Verbally is not working for me either.
Showing is good and I have a piece of paper and draw what to, with signs that I understand, then seeing the paper I can easily recall.


Signs and drawings help me too, both on paper and sign language.


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18 Jul 2014, 5:14 am

Written step by step instructions work best for me since it breaks the task into smaller steps and I can refer back to them when I get stuck. I won't remember verbal instructions even if they're repeated to me; I have the shortest short term memory of them all.


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ASPartOfMe
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18 Jul 2014, 11:28 pm

Written step by step is the best way for me as well as most on the spectrum. Executive Dysfunction makes multiple instructions difficult. Even step by step verbal instructions is multitasking because of having to look at the person while trying to filter out other noise and trying to make notes. This multitasking is made even more difficult by heightened sensory sensitivities.


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mr_bigmouth_502
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19 Jul 2014, 5:11 am

I just hate being told what to do. If I want to know, I'll ask. Why do people have such a problem with this?



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19 Jul 2014, 10:55 am

ASPartOfMe wrote:
Written step by step is the best way for me as well as most on the spectrum. Executive Dysfunction makes multiple instructions difficult. Even step by step verbal instructions is multitasking because of having to look at the person while trying to filter out other noise and trying to make notes. This multitasking is made even more difficult by heightened sensory sensitivities.

written is one of the hardest forms for self, as it is hard to understand a lot of language and process it into actions to.
am given instructions in PECS/symbols, easy read material and its backed up by support staff using hand over hand support and sometimes using makaton.
this tends to be the norm for the LFA spectrum.


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19 Jul 2014, 12:15 pm

I just refer to the picture on the box. :D



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19 Jul 2014, 2:37 pm

Andrejake wrote:
I like step-by-step instructions too, preferably if written.
If they are "being said" i'm prone to forget them as i try to understand it.

Same here. I have a lot of executive functioning problems and a memory impairment, so I need things spelled out (at least the first time around) and preferably in physical form so I can refer back to it. Whenever I make a recipe I have to double-check it like fifty times because I'll read it and go "ah, one cup of water" and then two seconds later be going "wait, how much water?"

My working memory is awful.