Sometimes stroke survivors tune people out, but not necessarily for the reason you think. When I am struggling with a task, I start talking to myself. For example, when I heard my toe scuffing the floor because I did not lift my leg high enough in the 1st year I silently said "knee up, knee up." If someone was talking to me at that moment I did not hear what that person said. I cannot listen to other people when I am talking to myself. If you want me to process new information or I want to participate in a discussion, I need to sit down.
Avoiding multitasking is a magic bullet because it has an immediate effect. By not dividing my attention, I focus all my energy on the part of my brain I need to use right now. When I take a hot dish out of the the oven I stop talking to guests. I need to monitor my hemiplegic hand to make sure it maintains a firm grip on the 400 degree handle. When I drive during rush hour I turn off the radio. I need to respond quickly to aggressive, unpredictable, impatient drivers.
I am not saying stroke survivors can never multitask. However, it can take many repetitions before a task becomes so automatic that I can simultaneously pay attention to a second task.
homeafterstroke.blogspot.com
This is so true even though my short-term memory was not affected. I remember once walking with my wife along a walking path next to a road and talking to her, a friend drove by honking the horn and waving at us. I nearly jumped out of my skin, never did recognize the friend. Just way too many things going on.
ReplyDeleteDean
I still have to stop walking when I want to look in a store window. Looking at the window display, keeping my balance with my head turned to the side, and maintaining awareness of the people walking past me is too much for me to handle at once. I understand why young children bump into people at the mall.
ReplyDeleteYour blog just gives such insight to those who have not had a stroke so we can understand and respond as such.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I can't even listen to music and listen to someone talking at the same time in most settings
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of issues with sound and moving as well as looking at things and turning. We are working on this at Physio and it seems like it is helping. Things like putting a radio on different volumes while I am trying balancing exercises and trying to build up my tolerance for sound + movement.
ReplyDeleteLinda my heart goes out to you. I know how hard trying to balance while listening to music is. It makes my stomach queasy just thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, one thing at a time sounds wonderful, just not realistic for me...wish it was possible. I do try to eliminate as many extras as I can, it does help !! Wondering when this gets better? Hopefully someday!
ReplyDeleteI can longer multitask... it was a skill I was good at, and miss it much! I also miss my perfect grammar and adult comprehesion.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all. I now have a better understanding as to what my brother is going through. I am very grateful.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good articles, i hope it's can help my university task, and Can you give me source of Bibliography from your articles, i need it
ReplyDeleteSome of my posts contain information from research articles. This one is based on my personal experience.
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