distractibility

[dis-trak″tĭ-bil´ĭ-te]

inability to focus one's attention on the task at hand so that the attention is too frequently drawn to irrelevant and unimportant environmental stimuli.

dis·tract·i·bil·i·ty

(dis-trak'ti-bil'i-tē),

A disorder of attention in which the mind is easily diverted by inconsequential occurrences; seen in mania and attention deficit disorder.

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

distractibility

Psychiatry The inability to maintain attention; shifting from one area or topic to another with minimal provocation Significance Sign of organic impairment, or a part of a functional disorder–eg, anxiety states, mania, or schizophrenia

dis·tract·i·bil·i·ty

(dis-trak'ti-bil'i-tē)

Level at which competing sensory stimuli are capable of drawing attention away from a given task.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

Patient discussion about distractibility

Q. I have a 19 year old daughter who is very distractible and is diagnosed with ADHD. I have a 19 year old daughter who is very distractible and is diagnosed with ADHD. She has a brilliant mind but she cannot finish any of her work. While doing her homework she gets distracted by the light coming from the other room and even during exams she often drifts and leaves sections undone. I know it’s very difficult for her to concentrate on one part of the work. What should she do? Please tell if you have tried.

A. Some medicines are there which can be taken on doctor’s advice. Apart from that you can also explain her to put her problem to the one she is talking, before she gets distracted. Tell her to maintain her eye contact while talking to any one so though she can remain focused. Train her by showing some signal about her distraction. Let her explain about this signal based indication whenever she gets distracted to all her friends so though she can remain with her attention. Tell her to sit close to the lecturer whenever in a class to avoid any distractions. Help her develop a habit to note down whatever thoughts or important information she gets and before she forgets.

More discussions about distractibility

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References in periodicals archive

Epileptic children scored high on variables of TMS like activity level, intensity, distractibility and rhythmicity.

A study to determine psychopathology, psychiatric morbidity and temperament in epileptic children

The DOTS-R, a 54-item questionnaire, measures 10 adult temperament dimensions: (1) activity level-general; (2) activity level-sleep; (3) approach-withdrawal; (4) flexibility-rigidity; (5) mood quality; (6) rhythmicity-sleep; (7) rhythmicity-eating; (8) rhythmicity-daily habits; (9) distractibility; and (10) persistence.

Temperament dimensions and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a previously deployed military sample

During the next 2 weeks she showed a decrease in expansive behaviour grandiose ideation and distractibility and became more appropriate socially.

Prolonged mania in a case of bipolar affective disorder

My hypothesis was partially supported by the data I obtained as dimensions of intensity, mood, approach, adaptability, and activity showed absolute stability from age 1 year to 2 years and from 2 years old to 3 years, whereas the dimensions of rhythmicity, threshold, persistence, and distractibility did not show absolute stability as the children got older.

Stability in temperament and emotional expression in 1- to 3-year-old children

Distractibility scale included 5 items about beliefs about how distracting phones were (Cronbach's alpha = .76).

College students' cell phone use, beliefs, and effects on their learning

Processing Speed and Freedom from Distractibility scores were standardized (mean [+ or -] SD = 100 [+ or -] 15).

Neuropsychological measures of attention and impulse control among 8-year-old children exposed prenatally to organochlorines

Hyperactivity 6.44 2.38 -.58 ** -.16 ** 11.Victimization- 4.62 1.48 -.47 ** -.10 Distractibility 3.

Assessment of the prosocial behaviors of young children with regard to social development, social skills, parental acceptance-rejection and peer relationships

(7) Psychiatric disorders include emotional lability, hyperactivity, distractibility, obsessions and compulsions.

Post-streptococcal neuropsychiatric movement disorders or Sydenham's chorea spectrum disorder: an update on management

These include increased rate of speech, speeding thoughts, increased sexual drive and reckless sexual behaviour, increased drug or alcohol misuse, profligate spending, irritability, thoughts of being especially powerful or gifted, thoughts rapidly jumping from one subject to another (known as "flight of ideas"), distractibility, paranoia, boundless energy and reduced need for sleep.

What does Charlie Sheen say about us and issues of mental health? Hollywood actor Charlie Sheen's bizarre behaviour has fascinated and horrified in equal measure. But Dr Paul Keedwell asks whether we're stigmatising the star as he publicly battles his demons

Two of the children had negative reactions to the Hemi-Sync music, displaying increased distractibility and hyperirritation.

Hemi-Sync Audio technology

"I actually see dance classes and any other body-based learning as an antidote to the distractibility created by social media," says Anne L.

Keeping texters on their toes: how do teachers cope when technology competes for their students' attention?

See, it's that kind of distractibility that makes Americans virtually ungovernable.

Cover your ears, Thomas Jefferson ..