Hi all,
I used to be able to type pretty well, with maybe only one typing error per paragraph. But now, I find I am adding letters, putting letters in the wrong order, typing an extra letter (particularly with my left hand - most of my problems are on my left)
I think it might be linked to that neurological test where you have to flip your hand over repeatedly face up/ face down, and I cant do that test very well on the left!
Do other people find this too?
Any ideas on how to improve it?
I can't do that well either. I am sure that there is an exercise, like hand-eye coordination training.
You're not alone,the brain controls everything;walking,talking and balance are just a few.I'd give anything to be able to have a conversation with anyone,even my kids avoid trying to talk to me anymore.I guess I don't blame them,I was the same way with my father when he was living with ataxia,now I bear the shame of avoiding him;or maybe that's my punishment. Ron
Same here. My left side is also worse than my right. I've always been a very fast typist but now I find my left hand is slower than my right and makes more mistakes. It's frustrating. I've heard of some dictation programs (where you speak into a microphone and it types it down for you). Oher than that, I think just some exercises to try to improve hand coordination may help.
I find that using music with a steady beat helps me with my coordination. Like the hand tapping test at the dr office, there is also the foot tapping one. I failed those miserably. But then I started practicing on my own using the beat of music to tap my foot and fingers and it has slowly helped me. I think it's because it helps retraining your brain. Good luck!
I was typing 65 wpm and now I can't get past 30 wpm. My handwriting has also been affected. I started printing everything. I went to Occupational therapy. 1) they found out my eyes were being affected (this can affect your balance), 2) I am now forcing myself to write in cursive when I'm not in a hurry. I also have problems with typing. I usually type the wrong letter even though my brain says to do otherwise.
My OT tries to get me to do practical things for exercise. When I take the silverware out of the dishwasher I take them out one at a time and switch hands halfway thru. Just put some coins on a table and pick them up one at a time.
The dishwasher thing sounds good - I like the idea of doing exercises without anyone knowing that Im doing them!
Kay said:
I was typing 65 wpm and now I can't get past 30 wpm. My handwriting has also been affected. I started printing everything. I went to Occupational therapy. 1) they found out my eyes were being affected (this can affect your balance), 2) I am now forcing myself to write in cursive when I'm not in a hurry. I also have problems with typing. I usually type the wrong letter even though my brain says to do otherwise.
My OT tries to get me to do practical things for exercise. When I take the silverware out of the dishwasher I take them out one at a time and switch hands halfway thru. Just put some coins on a table and pick them up one at a time.
If I type rember one more time ...
I Remember or forget the dang CAPS LOCK..I'll sssssssssssscream..now the ssssssssssssssssssssss key sssssstickssssssssssss..
..Gotta larf sometimes.. Ozzy
If you don't laugh @ yourself,you'll go crazy...............wait,I'm already there!Seriously though,I just returned from Michigan's upper peninsula and gave away my money to the Indians @ the casinos.Had fun & did things I didn't think I could do..................thanks to a pushy wife that won't take no for an answer!!!!!!!!!!Happy Halloween all...............Ron from Michigan
Yes I have been typing since I was 14 [73 on 21 Nov!] and find it great substitute for hand writing or speaking.
At least if the words come out wrong, you can take them back!
However, I do find if I hesitate, I often double click on a letter.
Dear Caz, The left side of my body is worse than my right. I'm right handed so trying to write/print with my left hand is fruitless (my right hand doesn't work well anymore as it is...,ha!). So I try to use my left hand for other things and practice picking small things up and putting them back down again, over and over. l that I have a small stress hand all that I squeeze while watching television. I do these things with me right hand also, as well as practicing writing/ printing letters and numbers. Repetition is the key I believe!
The new craze in Australia is adult colouring books, this is suppose to be help calm the mind and spirit.
Coloring in also helps with fine motor co-ordination (colour in between the lines), not only is it relaxing it is a lot of fun
We have those here in the UK too - OOOH, an excuse to go an buy one - "its for my exercises!!!"
When I was working in Paediatrics, we used to find that the parents would start colouring in their children's colouring books while the children were having their surgery or sleeping, and all of them would say how they had forgotten how nice it was to "colour in" and how relaxing it was.
Yes this is something to recommned to people (d**** typo again!) Looks like I need that colouring book!
The tremor was fractionally worse in my RH. I am RHanded so I use my LH for typing with a keyguard and big keys. That has lasted about two months. Now I'm even slower but can communicate.Just much slower than in the past.It is frustrating but possible.
BWAHHHHHHHH:):) No Speedy Gonzalez anymore here either when typing plus lots of wrong hits on the keys. Handwriting..which word is that, I crossed it from my vocabulary:):)
My Mom has a coloring book and loves it BUT 1) she was always having to sharpen the pencils 2) not enough colors. She started using the thin markers and loves them.
Caz1961 said:
We have those here in the UK too - OOOH, an excuse to go an buy one - "its for my exercises!!!"
When I was working in Paediatrics, we used to find that the parents would start colouring in their children's colouring books while the children were having their surgery or sleeping, and all of them would say how they had forgotten how nice it was to "colour in" and how relaxing it was.
Yes this is something to recommned to people (d**** typo again!) Looks like I need that colouring book!
Hope you have a fun day. Happy Birthday in advance. Barbara
Patsy said:
Yes I have been typing since I was 14 [73 on 21 Nov!] and find it great substitute for hand writing or speaking.
At least if the words come out wrong, you can take them back!
However, I do find if I hesitate, I often double click on a letter.
Hard for me to believe you'll soon be 72 years young, Patsy, as you look amazing! ;o)
This is an interesting discussion. I too have hand problems. From time to time I get a pain - usually in my right hand and my hand involuntarily goes into a peculiar shape where the wrist bends the hand inwards (palm up) or outwards (palm down) at about 45 degrees. My GP has no idea what causes this and has sent me to three specialists who found nothing. One of them was quite rude about it and implied I was wasting his time. Well I suppose I was but it's not really my fault!
I thought it was probably something to do with ataxia so I suggested that to my GP who said that was nonsense. So I'm wasting her time as well.
The discussion also reminds me that I also have difficulty with music. One of your correspondents says that music with a steady beat helps their coordination. Hee hee hee - I've tried that and it doesn't work for me! I cannot keep a steady pace at music no matter how hard I try. It feels as though my brain will only let me do one thing at once. I either listen to the beat (and my playing then goes awry) or I concentrate on playing (and then the pace goes awry)
I've also found a strange habit when I walk. We all have trouble walking so I often have to look exactly where I'm placing my feet or I will tread in some smelly stuff. So I spy some of this 'doggy litter' and tell myself to avoid it. But do I avoid it? I'll leave you to answer that question.
I don't know if this has anything to do with ataxia, but my left foot acts crazy and involuntarily pulls my arch out and my big toe separates from all my other toes so there is a gap between my big toes and the rest of the toes, and to get
it back to normal, I have to step down and put weight on it and it goes back to normal. It's painful. It used to happen occasionaly. Now it happens very often and sometimes with my other foot. I used to think it was when I wore shoes all day without proper arch support. Now I suspect it is a spasm caused by ataxia. Its happening more often and my toes are compromised in all directions. As long as it goes away promptly and easily when I stand, putting my full weight on my feet, I didn't check it out.
cross eyes said:
This is an interesting discussion. I too have hand problems. From time to time I get a pain - usually in my right hand and my hand involuntarily goes into a peculiar shape where the wrist bends the hand inwards (palm up) or outwards (palm down) at about 45 degrees. My GP has no idea what causes this and has sent me to three specialists who found nothing. One of them was quite rude about it and implied I was wasting his time. Well I suppose I was but it's not really my fault!
I thought it was probably something to do with ataxia so I suggested that to my GP who said that was nonsense. So I'm wasting her time as well.
The discussion also reminds me that I also have difficulty with music. One of your correspondents says that music with a steady beat helps their coordination. Hee hee hee - I've tried that and it doesn't work for me! I cannot keep a steady pace at music no matter how hard I try. It feels as though my brain will only let me do one thing at once. I either listen to the beat (and my playing then goes awry) or I concentrate on playing (and then the pace goes awry)
I've also found a strange habit when I walk. We all have trouble walking so I often have to look exactly where I'm placing my feet or I will tread in some smelly stuff. So I spy some of this 'doggy litter' and tell myself to avoid it. But do I avoid it? I'll leave you to answer that question.
Sounds like you are having problems with cramp, which can be really really painful. Most of my cramp is due to my herniated disc, but many people suffering from ataxia get a lot of cramp.
I spoke to my GP and I take an occasional Quinine Sulphate tablet which keeps it under control.