Concentration difficulty Assessment Questionnaire
Questions Your Doctor May Ask - and Why!
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the
symptom: Concentration difficulty. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic
tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not
be performed depending on the suspected condition)
Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is
important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an
accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all
medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any
specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask
below:
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- How long have you noticed the concentration difficulty?
Why: to determine if acute or chronic. If acute in nature must consider delirium as a possible cause of concentration difficulty. Delirium is an acute confusional state due to many causes e.g. infection, drug intoxication, alcohol withdrawal, liver failure, kidney failure, hypoxia, low blood sugar, stroke, heart attack or head injury.
- What is the age of the patient with concentration difficulty?
Why: if a child must consider attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders and inattention.
- Sleep history?- e.g. obstructive sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, insomnia
Why: are all common causes of concentration difficulties.
- Is the concentration difficulty cyclical around the menstrual cycle?
Why: may suggest premenstrual syndrome where the symptoms are worse before the period and are relieved with the period.
- Have you been bitten by a tick?
Why: may suggest Lyme disease.
- Have you been involved in a car accident recently?
Why: may indicate whiplash as possible cause of concentration difficulty.
- What are your current stressors in your life?
Why: to assess possibility of stress as cause of concentration difficulty.
- Medications?
Why: certain medications may cause concentration difficulty e.g. anticonvulsants, anticholinergics, anti-anxiety medications, opiates.
- Family history?
Why: e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, generalized anxiety disorder and bipolar affective disorder.
- Alcohol history?
Why: to assess chance of hangover or liver cirrhosis as the cause of concentrating difficulty.
- Illicit drug use history?
Why: e.g. ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine.
- Possible poisoning?
Why: e.g. lead poisoning and carbon monoxide can cause concentration difficulties.
- Impulsive behavior, inattentiveness and hyperactivity?
Why: may suggest attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
- Symptoms of depression?
Why: Depression may exhibit many of the features of an early dementia, especially concentration difficulties, memory impairment, slowed thinking and lack of spontaneity.
- Symptoms of anxiety or panic?
Why: e.g. nervousness, tremor, palpitations, hyperventilation.
- Psychotic symptoms?
Why: e.g. delusions, hallucinations and disordered thinking - may suggest schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- Fever?
Why: can suggest any infection that may cause delirium or meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess or brain hemorrhage.
- Symptoms of stroke?
Why: e.g. limb weakness or paralysis, facial muscle weakness or paralysis, difficulty with speech and swallow.
- Headache?
Why: may suggest brain cancer, acute stroke, migraine or sleep apnea.
- Symptoms of sleep apnea?
Why: e.g. loud snoring, morning headache, daytime sleepiness or poor sleep quality.
- Tiredness and fatigue?
Why: may suggest chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep deprivation, depression and sleep apnea.
Conditions listing medical symptoms: Concentration difficulty:
The following list of conditions
have 'Concentration difficulty' or similar
listed as a symptom in our database.
This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete.
Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause
of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which
include a symptom of Concentration difficulty or choose View All.
Conditions listing medical complications: Concentration difficulty:
The following list of medical conditions have 'Concentration difficulty'
or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.
