Difficulty making eye contact while listening

[AwesomeMom]

I'm having difficulty listening to people talk to me while I'm making eye contact with them. I've noticed its easier to concentrate on what they are saying if I turn my head or look down. If I continue to look at them directly, I lose track of what they are saying. Sometimes I even get dizzy. Does anyone else have this issue?

Thanks

[AwesomeMom]

I try to explain to my friends what is going on with me and how new all of this is. They tend to understand completely. I have noticed that tinted glasses and dark rooms are a big help. Bright lighting and the sun makes it worse for me.

Thanks for sharing with me.
Keep me posted!!

[Corriel]

I have had a tendency to look up and away from people I am speaking to. I think it is my way of having something that does not move to focus on. Makes people look though wondering what I am looking at. :-)

Not sure if it is MS related though in my case I was doing it a couple of years before I had any MS related symptoms.

Corrie

[Evalucia]

This happens to me as well.  When I am having a conversation with someone my eyes drift away from the person and I tune out for a bit.  This did not happen to me before.  I just hope people do not notice.  

I have such a hard time keeping myself focused these days.  (My neuro scheduled me for a cognitive test since he noticed some short term memory deficits)

[AwesomeMom]

I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one who's dealing with this issue. It's hard to explain to others that are not familiar with MS. I try to explain, so I don't appear as being rude. I am thankful for my friends and coworkers, they are a God-send. They check on me all the time. I have an appt to see my ophthalmologist soon, so I will explain everything to him also.

You are right, this is all new to me and it takes a bit to get used to. I am discovering little things all the time.

This forum is sooooo helpful and I don't feel alone. Thanks a lot.

[Lulu54]

I was smiling as I read your problem  - i have that same issue in one of the exam rooms at my neuro's office.  This is where on of the MS nurses sees patients and she always asks me what is wrong because it is very difficult to make eye contact with her.  The angle of the bank of fluorescent lights hits my eyes in such a way i can't help but look away.   I think ess has given you some great tips -I would also guess it is associated with your vision, but I'm not a doctor.  

The other thought I have is with being newly diagnosed, you are still in that hypersensitive state  and that may also contribute to the problem.  It's pretty amazing how this type of news will interrupt very different functions at times,
I hope you will talk to your medical team about all of this.  
Laura

[AwesomeMom]

Thanks a bunch!!! I do have optic neuritis and I've noticed that dark shades do help. Bright lights make it worse so I keep my office shades closed and only turn on one set of lights. I've had the psychological testing and passed them. I am thinking you are right that it has something to do with light sensitivity.

[essdipity]

Well, I think a thorough eye exam would be a good idea, just to establish a baseline. A neuro-ophthalmologist is the kind of doctor to see for this.

If problems continue, you also might want to have neuropsychological testing. Many members here have undergone this, particularly if they feel that various processing issues are interfering with their ability to function at work. Often the results can be pretty much informational if the person is able to compensate in some way for the problem or problems, but if these are really serious, the test results form a basis for a disability claim.

I hope you are able to work around this and that it isn't impacting too much on your day-to-day functioning. Could you try wearing tinted glasses? I don't think that would help with the actual problem, but it might disguise the fact that you aren't looking at the person you're interacting with.

Please let us know how things go.

ess

[AwesomeMom]

I was diagnosed with MS a month ago. I've never had any cognitive problems and in the past have been very attentive to noticing not only what the person is saying, but facial expressions and body language as well. Now I'm having trouble keeping eye contact and trying to listen as the same time.

[essdipity]

Hi. Could you give your question a bit more context? Have you had other cognitive or 'processing' problems? I'm assuming you have been diagnosed with MS. Not everyone here has.

ess