They say early trauma brings gaps in memory and lessens concentration, I think, that must be true.

I'm an ex foster carer and have three adopted children, they have all experienced a lot of trauma. The impact that their trauma has had on them has been a life long battle and I've had to parent very differently, constantly learning how we could make life easier and provide coping strategies. Simple things which we take for granted, like a meal in a restaurant, have been very hard for my children. My middle son in particular was very sensitive to who might be behind him so we leaned to ask for a table that was against the wall so that he was reassured that nobody was behind him. We don't know why he has such sensitivity and he can't remember but the body remembers even if the mind doesn't! I think my older two especially have lived in a constant state of fear, they were both extremely hypervigilant growing up and it makes sense that if you're constantly trying to cope with that level of fear and anxiety, you're not mentally in a place where you can concentrate and learn easily.