Verbal or Visual Instructions?

Post Reply New Topic

I'm absolutely horrible with verbal instructions, everything has to be visual or I'm just totally confused... How do you respond to Verbal instructions, good or bad? or Are you better with Visual?

I have some problems with both.

It depends on varying factors.

Visual: actually watching someone do something then repeat it - YES, I can do that quite easily.

Visual: reading the instructions then doing it? Sometimes... depending on the quality of the instructions and the length.

Verbal: As long as I can visualize what they are talking about, then I can do verbal fairly well, as long as the instructions don't take too long.
If I lose my focus while the instructions are given (which sometimes in someplaces can be a matter of seconds), then I won't be able catch up and I have to have them start over.


Good question! I'm looking forward to the answers!

A lot of verbal instructions are incomplete! SAME with visual. Personally, I like them together. Of course, I usually just figure things out.

completely crap with verbal instruction,staff use very basic verbal instruction with am and back it up with makaton,it's the signs that make sense.

I have found in sewing and pattern work, I often will read the directions and they mean nothing to me. But add that picture and I'm a genius. Verbal directions are useless. But pictures and words are the best combination for me.

depends... if it's just info... i like to hear it and generate my own visuals

if it's something im expected to perform......... i need to see it done!

Incomplete! Yes! That's me exactly. I can tell that something is missing. Doesn't mean I know what is missing, though. It's like a puzzle to work out.

Neglecting the fact that I don't take well to being "instructed", my brain erroneously thinks that I'm being forced to do said thing.

I learn by verbal instructions unless it's one of my narrow interests.

I'm best with visual. If I'm given verbal instructions, it helps if I repeat them out loud.

Visual instructions are much easier for me than verbal instructions, since I am an extreme visual learner and verbal instructions tend to confuse me.

Write it down and if you have purty little pictures, please put them down.

I am not the best with verbal instructions.

I must write down complex verbal insructions, visual is key for me to do something successfully, people dont learn this, so ill just keep messin up until they do, I just cant say it enough, all well.

I keep a pad of paper arouund in my car just in case I need directions, it takes more time but I am terrified if I become lost.

Visual, please. If you try to give me verbal instructions, I won't be able to swallow it. Even for something like math, which I'm supposed to be good at. Verbal instructions for those are horrible. I must see it or I won't get it.

Oh, heavens, I've got to have it in writing. My kid was reeling off a set of instructions for a recipe we were making in the kitchen the other night and it was driving me up a wall. One verbal at a time is the best I can do. I much prefer things in writing, though.

Visual. I can't remember verbal instructions for very long, especially if there's a decent number of them (more than 1 or 2). I have to repeat them back, and write them down before I forget.