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Suggest Treatment For Trouble Concentrating And Reading Difficulties
Question: Hi Doctor,
I am having concentration and reading difficulties. Whenever I read something, I forget the previous sentence when I go to the next, and end up reading the sentences multiple times in order to be able to comprehend the meaning. Even after reading multiple times, I find it difficult to appropriately comprehend the content. All this while I am able to apply logical thinking in a normal way.
I am preparing for a competitive exam which requires these abilities, but somehow am unable to get over this problem. When I try to read continuously for half-an hour or 1 hour, I get stressed and start feeling stiffness in the head which prevents me from thinking properly.
Please let me know if you can help me in this regard and if you need any additional information.
Regards,
XXXX
I am having concentration and reading difficulties. Whenever I read something, I forget the previous sentence when I go to the next, and end up reading the sentences multiple times in order to be able to comprehend the meaning. Even after reading multiple times, I find it difficult to appropriately comprehend the content. All this while I am able to apply logical thinking in a normal way.
I am preparing for a competitive exam which requires these abilities, but somehow am unable to get over this problem. When I try to read continuously for half-an hour or 1 hour, I get stressed and start feeling stiffness in the head which prevents me from thinking properly.
Please let me know if you can help me in this regard and if you need any additional information.
Regards,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
need some details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
You have concentration and reading problems and find it difficult to comprehend the content.
Based on this single complaint, the possible differential diagnosis could be:
Exam pressure and stress;
Anxiety and depressive disorder;
OC spectrum disorder;
Attention deficit disorder.
I would like to know some more details from you:
1. Since when are you facing these difficulties?
2. Does these complaints started suddenly or developed gradually?
3. Do you feel that you have to repeatedly read the sentences despite of your wish? Or sometime you feel that you frequently commit mistakes and thats why you have to read it repeatedly?
4. How is your mood these day? any stress in family or work?
5. Do you have any anxiety while talking to people or in any other circumstances or always anxious, restless, worried throughout the day?
6. Did you have same problem while school time also?
7. Do you feel that your mind keeps diverting to different things at same time?
8. How is your appetite or sleep?
9. Any history of alcohol or other addiction?
Kindly reply back with the answers to these questions.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks.
need some details.
Detailed Answer:
Hello Mr. XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and understand your concerns.
You have concentration and reading problems and find it difficult to comprehend the content.
Based on this single complaint, the possible differential diagnosis could be:
Exam pressure and stress;
Anxiety and depressive disorder;
OC spectrum disorder;
Attention deficit disorder.
I would like to know some more details from you:
1. Since when are you facing these difficulties?
2. Does these complaints started suddenly or developed gradually?
3. Do you feel that you have to repeatedly read the sentences despite of your wish? Or sometime you feel that you frequently commit mistakes and thats why you have to read it repeatedly?
4. How is your mood these day? any stress in family or work?
5. Do you have any anxiety while talking to people or in any other circumstances or always anxious, restless, worried throughout the day?
6. Did you have same problem while school time also?
7. Do you feel that your mind keeps diverting to different things at same time?
8. How is your appetite or sleep?
9. Any history of alcohol or other addiction?
Kindly reply back with the answers to these questions.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor,
Thanks for your response. Please find below my answers to your questions:
1. Since when are you facing these difficulties?
[XXXX]: I have been facing these difficulties for more than 5 years now.
2. Does these complaints started suddenly or developed gradually?
[XXXX]: I believe they developed gradually, but I noticed them around 5 years back or so. I always thought this could be related to some other problem like migraine, stress, acidity or something else. But I have not had migraine for years now (and actually I think I never had it and it was wrong diagnosis), and the only medicine I now take is esomeprazole which I don't think would cause this side effect.
3. Do you feel that you have to repeatedly read the sentences despite of your wish? Or sometime you feel that you frequently commit mistakes and thats why you have to read it repeatedly?
[XXXXX: I tend to read them only superficially and do not comprehend the content in its entirety, even though I want to do so. I do not think it could be because of exam pressure because I am sure I am not nervous, and moreover, this happens to me even when I read newspaper or any other general reading which does not have anything to do with my exam.
4. How is your mood these day? any stress in family or work?
[XXXXX]: Mood is fine and not much of stress from family or work as well. It is normal level of stress which everyone else takes and not anything seriously big to cause any problems according to me.
5. Do you have any anxiety while talking to people or in any other circumstances or always anxious, restless, worried throughout the day?
[XXXXX]: I don't think I have any of these, at least I am not aware of even if I may have, probably it is for others to judge, as I have not been able to observe these consciously.
6. Did you have same problem while school time also?
[XXXXX]: I don't recollect having this problem during school time.
7. Do you feel that your mind keeps diverting to different things at same time?
[XXXXX]: Yes, I am sure this happens. Till couple of years ago, I also had problems listening to people, I used to get diverted by some thought and did not follow what the person talking to me is saying, and then when they suddenly ask me for response, I embarrassingly ask them to repeat what they said. This happens nowadays sometimes, but has decreased to a great extent and not causing too much problem at my work at least.
8. How is your appetite or sleep?
[XXXX]: Appetite is not very good, I thought it could be because of acidity (GERD) problems. Sleep is fine, sometimes I don't get enough sleep or don't feel sleepy till late in the night, but generally it is fine.
9. Any history of alcohol or other addiction?
[XXXXX]: No addictions. I was a social drinker, but stopped even that, a long time back.
Thanks for your response. Please find below my answers to your questions:
1. Since when are you facing these difficulties?
[XXXX]: I have been facing these difficulties for more than 5 years now.
2. Does these complaints started suddenly or developed gradually?
[XXXX]: I believe they developed gradually, but I noticed them around 5 years back or so. I always thought this could be related to some other problem like migraine, stress, acidity or something else. But I have not had migraine for years now (and actually I think I never had it and it was wrong diagnosis), and the only medicine I now take is esomeprazole which I don't think would cause this side effect.
3. Do you feel that you have to repeatedly read the sentences despite of your wish? Or sometime you feel that you frequently commit mistakes and thats why you have to read it repeatedly?
[XXXXX: I tend to read them only superficially and do not comprehend the content in its entirety, even though I want to do so. I do not think it could be because of exam pressure because I am sure I am not nervous, and moreover, this happens to me even when I read newspaper or any other general reading which does not have anything to do with my exam.
4. How is your mood these day? any stress in family or work?
[XXXXX]: Mood is fine and not much of stress from family or work as well. It is normal level of stress which everyone else takes and not anything seriously big to cause any problems according to me.
5. Do you have any anxiety while talking to people or in any other circumstances or always anxious, restless, worried throughout the day?
[XXXXX]: I don't think I have any of these, at least I am not aware of even if I may have, probably it is for others to judge, as I have not been able to observe these consciously.
6. Did you have same problem while school time also?
[XXXXX]: I don't recollect having this problem during school time.
7. Do you feel that your mind keeps diverting to different things at same time?
[XXXXX]: Yes, I am sure this happens. Till couple of years ago, I also had problems listening to people, I used to get diverted by some thought and did not follow what the person talking to me is saying, and then when they suddenly ask me for response, I embarrassingly ask them to repeat what they said. This happens nowadays sometimes, but has decreased to a great extent and not causing too much problem at my work at least.
8. How is your appetite or sleep?
[XXXX]: Appetite is not very good, I thought it could be because of acidity (GERD) problems. Sleep is fine, sometimes I don't get enough sleep or don't feel sleepy till late in the night, but generally it is fine.
9. Any history of alcohol or other addiction?
[XXXXX]: No addictions. I was a social drinker, but stopped even that, a long time back.
Brief Answer:
probably no specific disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for the late respone.
Dear XXXXXXX thanks for the details.
I have gone through them thoroughly.With all these details, I feel that these do not point to any specific disorder.
I think your problems of concentration and reading difficulties do not need a drug treatment.
I can give you some suggestions which will help you to deal with this problem:
1. Symptoms similar to yours are present in many people commonly. Any different stimulus while you are doing some work (reading in your case) automatically use up part of your brain’s attention capacity, whether you are aware of it or not.
e.g. if you are reading something and mind starts thinking about some other thing in the backdrop, you wont be able comprehend what you were reading. This will end up in you reading the same thing again and again.
2. Try to focus on one thing/topic at a time. This will not divide your attention.
3. When you have learnt something new, take a break for few moments so that it gets registered. If you try to learn the bulk of new information at once, the new concept will interfere with the registration of other.This is principle of interference.Also, persist with one topic at a time.
4. Do not read empty stomach.Your brain needs glucose to work.
5. A simple puzzle game can make your brain exercise. This will strengthen your 'brain muscles'.
6. You can try meditation exercises to improve your concentration.
7. Adequate sleep and diet is very essential.
8. Whenever and wherever you study, the environment should be free of distractions, conducive enough to study.
9.Take a break after every 45 minutes of studying. Change the topic if you are finding one topic difficult to understand.
If possible, kindly consult your local psychiatrist/psychologist for a more detailed evaluation. This can further help you to work out the ways for improvement of your symptoms.
Hope I am able to help you to some extent.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
probably no specific disorder.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
Sorry for the late respone.
Dear XXXXXXX thanks for the details.
I have gone through them thoroughly.With all these details, I feel that these do not point to any specific disorder.
I think your problems of concentration and reading difficulties do not need a drug treatment.
I can give you some suggestions which will help you to deal with this problem:
1. Symptoms similar to yours are present in many people commonly. Any different stimulus while you are doing some work (reading in your case) automatically use up part of your brain’s attention capacity, whether you are aware of it or not.
e.g. if you are reading something and mind starts thinking about some other thing in the backdrop, you wont be able comprehend what you were reading. This will end up in you reading the same thing again and again.
2. Try to focus on one thing/topic at a time. This will not divide your attention.
3. When you have learnt something new, take a break for few moments so that it gets registered. If you try to learn the bulk of new information at once, the new concept will interfere with the registration of other.This is principle of interference.Also, persist with one topic at a time.
4. Do not read empty stomach.Your brain needs glucose to work.
5. A simple puzzle game can make your brain exercise. This will strengthen your 'brain muscles'.
6. You can try meditation exercises to improve your concentration.
7. Adequate sleep and diet is very essential.
8. Whenever and wherever you study, the environment should be free of distractions, conducive enough to study.
9.Take a break after every 45 minutes of studying. Change the topic if you are finding one topic difficult to understand.
If possible, kindly consult your local psychiatrist/psychologist for a more detailed evaluation. This can further help you to work out the ways for improvement of your symptoms.
Hope I am able to help you to some extent.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor. I have one last question. I missed out on telling you that I have a small lump (like a swelling of a nerve) on the top right hand side of my forehead. It sometimes feels painful when I continuously read for an hour so. Could this be anyway related to this? I am not sure, but just wanted to check with you if you suggest any specific test to rule out this possibility.
Regards,
XXXXX
Regards,
XXXXX
Brief Answer:
I do not think this to be related.
Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome.
I do not think that a small forehead swelling could cause impaired concentration and comprehension. No special tests needed.
But yes, I would recommend the local physical examination of the swelling by a general surgeon.
However, it would have been great if you could upload the picture of the swelling.
Hope to have helped you satisfactorily.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give you valuable feedback.
I wish you well.
Thanks.
I do not think this to be related.
Detailed Answer:
You are most welcome.
I do not think that a small forehead swelling could cause impaired concentration and comprehension. No special tests needed.
But yes, I would recommend the local physical examination of the swelling by a general surgeon.
However, it would have been great if you could upload the picture of the swelling.
Hope to have helped you satisfactorily.
Kindly close the discussion if you have no more queries and give you valuable feedback.
I wish you well.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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