The ability to follow instructions is a multi-step neurological process: it requires auditory processing (hearing), working memory (holding the info), and executive execution (doing the task). If a child “ignores” you, it’s often not defiance; it’s a “working memory overflow.” If you give three instructions at once while the TV is on in your Dubai living room, the child’s brain may simply drop the second and third steps.
In therapy, we use “Chunking” and “Visual Priming.” We teach children to “echo” the instruction back to us to lock it into their working memory. For a child growing up in the UAE’s bilingual or trilingual environments, we also ensure that the language used is at their “instructional level”—meaning they actually understand the verbs and prepositions being used (e.g., “under,” “next to,” “after”).
The “Check-Back” Strategy
At home, stop giving “drive-by instructions” from another room. Walk to your child, get on their eye level, and give a one-step command: “Put your shoes in the rack.” Then, ask them: “What did I ask you to do?” Once they repeat it, they are 80% more likely to complete it. For the busy mornings in Al Nahda, this “Check-Back” saves hours of frustration.
Specialist FAQ
- Why does he only listen when I yell? Yelling provides a “cortisol spike” that forces the brain to attend, but it doesn’t teach the skill of listening. It actually trains the brain to wait for the yell before acting.
- Could this be a hearing issue? We always recommend an audiology check-up first. If hearing is fine, it’s likely an Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) or an executive function delay.
- How many steps should a 5-year-old follow? Generally, a 5-year-old should manage 2 to 3-step related instructions (e.g., “Get your bag and wait by the door”).
Help your child become a “First-Time Listener” by visiting Neurobloom Rehabilitation Centre, Al Nahda 2, Dubai or calling 0507548629 for a consultation.
