What symptoms can result from dysfunction of the brain?
Under normal circumstances, functional disorders of the brain can lead to abnormalities in language function, behavior, balance and coordination, vision, and hearing. The specific manifestations are as follows:
1. Language Function Abnormalities
Language dysfunction may involve impaired language expression, such as difficulty conveying intended meanings, trouble accurately expressing one's thoughts and feelings, or difficulty finding appropriate words and forgetting commonly used vocabulary. Sometimes, individuals may also experience language comprehension difficulties, struggling to understand the meaning of others' speech, leading to communication challenges.
2. Behavioral Abnormalities
Behavioral abnormalities may include repetitive or stereotyped behaviors, such as repeatedly performing the same movement like incessant hand-rubbing or shaking the head. Impulsive behaviors may also occur, characterized by a lack of behavioral control and thoughtless engagement in inappropriate actions, such as making loud noises in inappropriate settings or interrupting others' conversations randomly.
3. Balance and Coordination Disorders
Functional brain disorders may affect the body's balance and coordination, resulting in unsteady gait, frequent falls, and clumsiness or lack of dexterity during activities requiring fine motor skills and coordination, such as tying shoelaces or writing. The accuracy and fluency of movements may also decline.
4. Visual Abnormalities
Visual disturbances may include blurred vision or unclear sight, or visual hallucinations, such as perceiving objects or lights that do not actually exist. In some cases, individuals may experience difficulty focusing visually, trouble concentrating on visual targets, and reduced ability to process visual information—for example, skipping lines or omitting words while reading.
5. Auditory Abnormalities
Hearing abnormalities may manifest as hearing loss or reduced sensitivity to sounds, making it difficult to hear others' speech or surrounding environmental noises. Some individuals may develop auditory hypersensitivity, finding normal volume sounds intolerable or excessively irritating. Others might experience auditory hallucinations, such as tinnitus or hearing voices or sounds that do not actually exist, like hearing someone calling their name.
The symptoms of functional brain disorders may vary among individuals and may change as the condition progresses. Therefore, patients suspected of having a functional brain disorder should seek medical attention promptly.