Symptom: Concentration difficulty

Introduction: Concentration difficulty

Difficulty with concentration is a symptom that can arise from both physical and psychological or emotional problems. Concentration symptoms may or may not be associated with memory symptoms such as forgetfulness. Physical medical conditions that affect concentration include Lyme disease, whiplash, and various others. Psychological conditions that may impair concentration include depression, certain anxiety disorders, and stress. Sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea can also impair concentration ability. Any concentration or memory symptom needs prompt professional medical diagnosis.

» Review Causes of Concentration difficulty: full list

Causes of Concentration difficulty:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Concentration difficulty. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Simple reasons for reduced concentration include:
  • Fatigue
  • Tiredness
  • Drowsiness
  • Sleep debt
  • Anxiety
• Marijuana - a form of cannabis
• Hyperactivity
• Cannabis
• ADHD
• Inattention
• Minimal brain disorder
• Klüver-Bucy syndrome

See full list of 153 causes of Concentration difficulty

» Review Causes of Concentration difficulty: full list

Causes of Types of Concentration difficulty:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Concentration difficulty:

• Impaired concentration (10 causes)
• Inattention (21 causes)

More types of Concentration difficulty

Concentration difficulty: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Concentration difficulty, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Concentration difficulty: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Concentration difficulty and Mental problems (142 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Behavioral symptoms (141 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Personality symptoms (137 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and School problems (80 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Infant symptoms (80 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Developmental problems (79 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Learning disabilities (78 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Head symptoms (77 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Muscle symptoms (67 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Muscle weakness (63 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Nerve symptoms (60 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Sensations (57 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Weakness (57 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Society problems (52 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Mental retardation (52 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Pain (51 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Face symptoms (50 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Fatigue (48 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Movement symptoms (48 causes)
• Concentration difficulty and Body symptoms (46 causes)

See full list of 993 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Concentration difficulty

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Mental problems (1944 causes)
• Behavioral symptoms (2767 causes)
• Personality symptoms (2477 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Concentration difficulty

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Concentration difficulty:

• Inattention (21 causes)
• Hyperactivity (95 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Concentration difficulty

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Concentration difficulty from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Concentration difficulty. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Concentration difficulty

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Concentration difficulty

Rare epilepsy misdiagnosed as ADHD: The less common disorder of temporal lobe epilepsy is a type of epilepsy without physical seizures. Some patients suffer from hyperactivity and similar symptoms, making a misdiagnosis of ADHD a possibility. See temporal lobe...read more »

RLS sleep disorder causing night-time leg sensations often misdiagnosed: A common but relatively unknown sleep-related disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is often misdiagnosed. The typical symptoms are night-time...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Concentration difficulty

Diagnostic tests for Concentration difficulty:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Concentration difficulty. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
• Neurological examination to look for focal neurological signs and papilledema
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count
  • ESR

See full list of 22 diagnostic tests for Concentration difficulty

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Concentration difficulty. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you noticed the concentration difficulty? - 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? - if a child must consider attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disorders and inattention.
• Sleep history?- e.g. obstructive sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, insomnia - are all common causes of concentration difficulties.
• Is the concentration difficulty cyclical around the menstrual cycle? - 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? - may suggest Lyme disease.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Concentration difficulty (21 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Concentration difficulty) may include:

• Impulsive behavior, inattentiveness and hyperactivity? - may suggest attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Symptoms of depression? - 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? - e.g. nervousness, tremor, palpitations, hyperventilation.
• Psychotic symptoms? - e.g. delusions, hallucinations and disordered thinking - may suggest schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
• Fever? - can suggest any infection that may cause delirium or meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess or brain hemorrhage.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Concentration difficulty (21 listings)

Stories from Users for Concentration difficulty

Real-life user stories relating to Concentration difficulty:

• Been to 60 Doctors cannot get help
• misdiagnosis trouble, need advice
• cannot get a diagnosis, worried
• doctors cannot determine my illness
• Please Help I cannot get a dx (exteme weight loss)
• I cannot get a diagnosis on my 2 year old
• Cannot get a diagnosis!!
• I can't get any help...I think something is wrong
• cloudy mind
• My dad cannot get a diagnosis
• in my mind?
• Doctors cannot figure this out
• Cannot get diagnosed!! Help!
• i cannot get a diagnosis
• cannot get a diagnosis
• slpeeping problems and memory loss/lack of concentration
• Trouble adjusting to vision loss
• Regretting the Mirena -why cant we make a baby?
• Assessment of COncentration Difficulty
• Help? child having trouble?

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Concentration difficulty or relevant symptoms:

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
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  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
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• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories
• Psychiatric (Mental Health) (218)
  • PLEASE can anyone help my son?!
  • My husbands making me sad
  • Heart condition or mental health problem?
  • Anxiety or...?
  • Weird Behavior at School. Normal?
  • More user stories

Videos for Concentration difficulty

Patient Surveys for Concentration difficulty

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Medications or substances causing Concentration difficulty:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Concentration difficulty as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Marijuana - a form of cannabis
• Cannabis
• Zonisamide
• Zonegran
• Topiramate

See full list of 57 medications causing Concentration difficulty

Drug interactions causing Concentration difficulty:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Concentration difficulty as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Percodan and alcohol interaction
• Terephthalate and alcohol interaction
• Percodan-Demi and alcohol interaction
• Roxiprin and alcohol interaction
• Empirin with Codeine No. 3 and alcohol interaction

See full list of 476 drug interactions causing Concentration difficulty

Organs affected by Concentration difficulty:

The list of organs typically affected by Concentration difficulty may include, but is not limited to:

• Brain

Detailed list of causes of Concentration difficulty

The list below shows some of the causes of Concentration difficulty mentioned in various sources:

• Adenosine triphosphatase deficiency, anaemia due to - concentration difficulty
• ADHD
• Allergic irritability syndrome - reduced concentration
• Alzheimer's Disease - loss of concentration
• Amotivational syndrome - reduced concentration

See full list of 153 causes of Concentration difficulty

How Common are these Causes of Concentration difficulty?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Concentration difficulty. Of the 153 causes of Concentration difficulty that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 7 causes are "very common" diseases
• 6 causes are "common" diseases
• 4 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 1 causes are "rare" diseases
• 4 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 139 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 153 causes of Concentration difficulty

Conditions listing 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.

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Causes of Concentration difficulty Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Concentration difficulty based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: