Brain injury and concentration
People who have sustained a brain injury may not immediately recognise that their ability to concentrate has changed. There are often no physical signs to suggest a problem exists. This can lead to misunderstandings when others perceive an inability to concentrate as a lack of intelligence or motivation. This problem is of particular concern with children who return to the classroom after acquiring a brain injury.
People who have sustained a brain injury may:
- become easily distracted and have trouble keeping track of what is being said or done
- have difficulty doing more than one task at a time
- experience information overload, and be slower at taking in and making sense of information.
Concentration problems can inhibit the ability to learn and remember information, causing people to feel frustrated with themselves and others. They may be easily overwhelmed and confused, which can exacerbate problems related to fatigue, headaches and dizziness.