Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms: Concentration

Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Concentration

Problems with concentrating are relatively common for people with multiple sclerosis. For some, this is so mild as to be barely noticeable. For others however, impaired concentration can be very problematic and present everyday difficulties.

There is no relationship between the level of disability or other symptoms, and cognitive symptoms such as concentration.

As with many aspects of multiple sclerosis, the 'unseen' or invisible nature of concentration difficulties may cause problems with friends, family or work colleagues who can feel that a lack of attention is a deliberate or willful decision to consciously ignore them or a work task.

Concentration and Mental Fatigue

Becoming mentally fatigued when trying to concentrate is common. When this occurs, despite initially being able to concentrate on the task to hand, mental fatigue soon sets in and the person finds it almost impossible to maintain concentration levels.

Often, people who have multiple sclerosis find that they can only work on one thing at a time and that environmental distractions such as in the office or at home interferes with their ability to maintain concentration.

This is often in complete contrast to how they were before they became ill when they were able to keep their attention focused while answering phones, listening to the radio and working at their computer all at the same time.

Being unable to concentrate can make learning new things a slow and laborious process for people with multiple sclerosis and it is thought that some people with ms can be slower to learn new things than a healthy counterpart because of their lessened ability to maintain concentration.

See cognitive dysfunction for more information.

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