Cognitive problems
Sometimes it can be hard to think straight if you have MS. Using your memory and concentration for everyday tasks can be harder than it used to be. These inefficiencies in thinking are known as “cognitive problems” and about half of people with MS will experience them to a greater or lesser degree. The most common areas of difficulty are memory and concentration, but everyone has their own individual pattern. Cognitive difficulties can be hard to recognise and understand. Information and help is not always easy to come by. Friends and relatives often want to help, but find it hard to work out what they should do.
StayingSmart is a website that provides information about the experience and management of cognitive difficulties in MS. It has been developed by the Multiple Sclerosis Trust (MST), a UK-based charity. StayingSmart has been designed to be easy to use and does not need technical computer skills to access information. It gives a range of everyday problems, such as “I forget to take my tablets”. Clicking on a problem takes you through into layers of information that help with the underlying cognitive issue relating to that problem. The information includes a brief definition of the cognitive skill, e.g. “memory”. There are also “Tips and Tricks” to help with that particular problem, from professionals and other people with MS. You are invited to send in any tips and tricks that have helped you. There is a section on “Getting professional help”, which explains how to contact professionals and what kind of help they might give you. There is also a section of MST publications and a bigger section on other resources that may help, including books, dvd’s and other websites. “Gadgets and gizmos” lists aids and devices that other people have found helpful. There is also advice on talking to family and friends about each particular problem. For people who are very confident with computers, or want all of the information at once, there is “Fast track”.
StayingSmart is designed for people with MS, those around them and for health professionals who work with them. People with MS may choose to use the site by themselves, either for a quick piece of information or to take some time to reflect on their experiences, in the light of StayingSmart’s information and advice. Friends and family of people with MS may visit StayingSmart to help them understand about cognitive difficulties. People with MS may use the website with family or friends, or may choose to print out sections to take away and read together. People with MS may also want to use StayingSmart with their nurses or other health professionals, to discuss what their experiences mean. They might also want to talk together about what management strategies are most likely to be helpful for them.
D. Langdon, Ph.D., Reader in Neuropsychology at Royal Holloway, University of London and author of StayingSmart, see www.stayingsmart.org.uk
