Spotting the Signs of Dementia: Why It’s Important to Get a Second Opinion
Are you worried about your own or a loved one’s mental sharpness? It is normal to forget little things when you age and if you see yourself forgetting something minor, like someone’s name, but remember it a few moments later, then that isn’t a serious memory problem you should be concerned about. The memory problems you need to get checked out are those that seriously affect your day to day life because these could be the early symptoms of dementia. The symptoms you have and how strong the symptoms are will vary from person to person.
Loss of Memory
Losing your memory is the most common symptom to look out for. If you find yourself forgetting recently learned information or big events you’ve recently gone to, losing track of important names, events, and dates or asking yourself to same questions over and over again, then you should speak to your doctor immediately.
Struggling to Problem Solve
Planning and problem-solving fall into the same category when dementia is involved. If you can’t make or stick to plans, can’t follow familiar instructions or find it hard to concentrate on detailed tasks, such as keeping track of your bills, then you may be in the early stages of dementia.
Daily Tasks Are Affected
When familiar things start to become a struggle, alarm bells should be ringing, and you should ask for a professional opinion. When something affects your day to day life, this means a course of action is essential to help you. Examples of tasks that could be affected are forgetting how to drive to a very familiar location, completing normal tasks at work or forgetting the rules or how to play your favourite game.
Visual Changes
As you age, your vision does change. In most cases, it gets worse. When you are finding it hard to read words, judge distance, and can’t tell the difference between colours, then you need to seek medical attention. Most of the issues stated will affect how a person can drive. When it comes to driving, having clear vision is vital for your and other road user’s safety.
A Second Opinion
If you have or know someone who is experiencing these issues, then you need to speak to a doctor. They will evaluate both your mental and physical health, look at your medical history, and may carry out brain or blood imaging tests. You will then get referred to a neurologist if they think it is necessary. If you or someone you know has visited a healthcare professional in the past, not been referred but have continued to experience these symptoms and they have worsened, then you may be owed compensation for medical negligence. Visit The Medical Negligence Experts to see if you are able to make a claim.
Dementia is a scary health condition. The symptoms stated are the most common, but you should keep an eye out for others. The sooner you spot the problem and find professional help, the better it is for you or your loved one.