Auditory processing disorder -- APD -- affects the way the brain receives electrical messages from the inner ear. The difficulty is not in the range of hearing but with processing the word and interpreting the meaning. APD is found in 5 percent of...
Bifocals are dual-vision glasses that allow the patient to see two different vision prescriptions through the same lens. Bifocals can often be identified because they look like a normal glasses lens with a portion of another lens resting on top,...
When you were a kid, you probably felt dizzy after spinning in circles. As an adult, your dizziness is most likely a symptom of a condition. Dizziness is when you feel a bit unsteady or have difficulty focusing or gaining balance. Vertigo occurs...
Wrinkles around the eyes are usually the first indicators that your skin is aging. As you age, your skin produces less collagen and loses its elasticity, which is the reason wrinkles begin to appear in your mid-to-late 20s from years of sun...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a relatively common gastrointestinal disorder that may cause abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, mucus in the stools, flatulence and either diarrhea or constipation. Less common symptoms include fatigue,...
Difficulty focusing, poor decision making and an overall feeling of overwhelm can occur from mental fatigue. Various factors contribute to this temporary cognitive blundering, such as lack of nutrients, lack of sleep and overexertion. Spaciness...
Frontal headaches are a common symptom among adults and children. Headaches may occur infrequently, episodically or persistently, depending on the underlying cause of the condition. Common causes of frontal headaches include sinus and eye problems...
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common disorders in children, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Children with ADHD often have difficulty focusing and also can be hyperactive and have trouble staying...
Menopause is a term that historically has been used to describe the time in a woman's life when there are dramatic changes in hormone levels and she loses her fertility. "Male menopause" is generally used to describe the lowering of hormone levels...
Many vitamins are known to produce positive effects on your brain. These vitamins keep the brain strong so that you can focus and concentrate and keep your memory strong. Including these vitamins by taking a multivitamin and maintaining a healthy...
Parents can become frustrated when they have a child who has difficulty focusing. He may find it hard to pay attention in school or may not be able to sit still long enough to complete tasks at home. Instead of punishing him, you can use positive...
When children are asked to pay attention, they are being asked to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. The task at hand may simply be to listen to what is being said, but there are other tasks that children are asked to do that also require...
Chloroquine belongs to a class of medications known as anti-malarials. Chloroquine is indicated for the treatment and prevention of malaria which is a disease caused by plasmodium parasites. It is also used to treat infections caused by amoeba...
Detrol is the brand name for the medicine tolterodine tartrate. Drugs.com explains that Detrol is prescribed to reduce muscle spasms of the bladder muscles. This is helpful in treating overactive bladder symptoms, including urinary frequency,...
Retinoblastoma is a medical condition that occurs if you develop a cancerous tumor within the retina---the delicate nerve tissue that lines the back of your eye. This type of cancer occurs most commonly in children under the age of five and is...
With diabetes, your body is unable to maintain a healthy balance between insulin produced in the pancreas and sugar formed by the breakdown of carbohydrates. With type 1 diabetes, your body stops producing insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body...
According to the Mayo Clinic, you can have prediabetes and not know it. Prediabetic signs can be non existent, or they may be the same as those for diabetes. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse states that in 2007, 57 million Americans...
Seizures that occur at night, or nocturnal seizures, are usually due to epilepsy and can significantly effect the ability to get a good night's rest. However, there are other sleep disorders that cause similar symptoms, which may be misdiagnosed...
Mental status changes are one of the most common presentations of electrolyte imbalances. According to "Cecil Medicine," the prevalence of acute cases of mental confusion during hospital stays is approximately 60 percent in elderly patients, with...
Snoring occurs when a person's breathing is obstructed, causing rumbling sounds that may become bothersome to other sleepers nearby. Many people who snore do not realize they are doing so, though as many as half of adults snore at least on...
Vitamin B12 is vital to healthy blood and nerve function and if the body's stores are depleted that can cause both anemia and neurological problems. Most people in the U.S. get enough vitamin B12 by eating the animal foods where it is commonly...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a large and very important role in the body's cardiovascular, renal, hormonal and central nervous systems. Dopamine levels heavily influence motor function and brain thinking, and as such low levels have...
When you suffer from presbyopia, you have difficulty focusing on objects up close. This condition typically appears after you turn 40 and is considered a natural part of the aging process of the eye, according to the American Optometric...
If you are over 35, you may have noticed changes in your ability to see objects close up. This is a result of normal aging changes in the lens and strength of the eye muscles that result in difficulty focusing on up close objects. This visual...
When children have difficulty focusing attention their schoolwork and ability to make and keep friends suffers. David Life and Shannon Gannon of Jivumukti Yoga believe that providing children with calming activities such as the practice of...
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is generally an inherited condition. It is characterized by the eye being too short from front to back. People who are farsighted tend to have difficulty focusing on objects up close. The condition can also cause...
Effexor, made by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, is the brand name for the generic drug venlafaxine. According to Wyeth, Effexor is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and social anxiety...
Chloroquine has been used since the 1940s for the treatment and prevention of malaria, reports the Centers for Disease Control. It is sold under the brand names Aralen Phosphate and Aralen Hydrochloride. The drug's other primary use is for the...
Catuaba is an herbal supplement derived from a small tree native to the Brazilian landscape, according to HerbalExtracts.com. This plant has long been used as a mild aphrodisiac and immune system booster due to its natural effects on the central...
Depression is a very common medical illness that involves the mind and body. It affects how you think and behave and can cause a variety of emotional and physical problems. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments of depression...