Symptom 3. Trouble with Spatial Awareness: Navigating the World with MCI
Moving on to the third symptom, people with MCI often experience difficulty with spatial awareness. Spatial awareness, or our understanding of our physical environment and how we move within it, is fundamental to our interaction with the world around us. When this becomes impaired, it can pose considerable challenges.
This symptom may manifest in different ways. For instance, individuals with MCI may have trouble judging distances or might struggle with directions.
They might find it harder to navigate familiar routes or feel disoriented even in known environments. This can sometimes lead to difficulties with coordination and balance, increasing the risk of falls or accidents.
The loss of spatial awareness isn’t only about navigation or coordination. It can also affect an individual’s ability to carry out tasks that require a mental grasp of spatial relationships.
Tasks such as organizing the dishes in a dishwasher, packing a suitcase, or assembling a piece of furniture can become increasingly challenging. They might also have trouble reading a map or following directions, which can significantly affect their independence. (3)
