Does anyone know if MS can cause retardiness on adults?
Hi Jaz,
If you mean “retardedness”, I think it’s a bit politically incorrect to call it that these days (Wouldn’t it be: “learning difficulties”?), and anyway, technically, “retardation” would refer to a developmental problem - someone who has failed to develop in the normal way. I don’t think, strictly speaking, an adult can become “retarded” through illness or accident.
But if you mean: “Can MS cause mental impairment?” then the answer is yes, but this is both minor and manageable, in most people. Problems with memory and concentration are common, but most people do not drop several IQ points!
Problems with speech are sometimes wrongly assumed by others to be a sign of mental impairment, when in reality the person ISN’T having problems thinking - only with communicating their thoughts.
Tina
well said tina x
Tina
Your answer is so nicely written. Your second & third paragraph’s describe me absolutely down to a T. Incredibly frustrating & embarrassing symptoms of MS.
Thanks
Bill.
I’m with you completely on this one Tina, you’ve explained it so eloquently.
Suex
To be fair, I might have answered Jaz a bit harshly, as I know she has MS herself, and I’m sure the question was sincere, and not meant to sound insulting.
I guess we all worry about just how far this thing might affect us mentally. There’s no doubt it does, but most of us won’t be profoundly affected. Just frustratingly or embarrassingly at times.
T.
No I don’t think so, you have dealt with the question so eloquently which balances the question perfectly my friend!
Say it how it is, we are all grown ups on this site! We all live and learn eh what!?
Suex
Tina is right. It is not politically correct to use the word retard. I have a son who is 25 and he has severe learning difficulties meaning he was not able to learn as much as other young people his age. He has reached a development age of three years. I am sure the poster didn’t mean any offence and I certainly didn’t take any. MS does affect me mentally. I have problems sometimes trying to remember a word when I am speaking. My memory is terrible and if there are a lot of people speaking at once my mind goes off to outer space! Sometimes I go to make a phone call and my mind goes blank and I cant remember the number. I always have a to do list and cant do a food shop without a list. I have a lot of lists!!
Mary
My main memory problems are - I keep leaving the rear car boot open, keys left in side garage door and leaving the house back door unlocked. Now and then I repeat something I’ve said a minute or two earlier.
Re. concentration, sometimes I find it difficult doing tricky electronic tasks at work, so it’s just as well I’m self employed.
John.
What I find is that my mind works pretty much as normal but where I have difficulties is voicing things/explaining to others - there seems a delay and difficulty in getting thoughts and views across and sometimes words just ‘go’.
Gill