People who have MS often say that they are still able to do everything they previously did in the intellectual sphere, but that they have to do it all more slowly. For example, processing more than one "channel" of information at a time may be impossible, particularly if it is all moving quickly. Unfortunately, much of everyday life demands rapid-fire, multichannel processing with rapid shifts from channel to channel. For example, Mom may be sitting in the kitchen balancing the checkbook when the phone rings. Just as she is answering it, the 4-year-old twins in the next room start screaming at each other, and simultaneously the doorbell rings. If you add to this scenario slight slowing of thought processes and response time, and some difficulty walking, you can easily see how an ordinary day in the life of a person with MS can become very stressful! Cognitive Problems in Multiple Sclerosis |
