Symptoms & Diagnosis
Symptoms of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
There are three primary symptoms of NPH:
- Gait disturbance is commonly the primary manifestation of NPH as well as the most readily recognizable feature. Persons with NPH are often “glue-footed”, or have a hard time picking their feet up off the floor leading to shuffling, instability and frequent falls.
- Cognitive disturbance (Dementia) is the next most common symptom of NPH and often includes slowing of thought, inattentiveness, and apathy, as well as memory problems(forgetfulness).
- Urinary incontinence can be less common in NPH and may present with feelings of frequency and urgency.
NPH is progressive and symptoms gradually worsen with time. Not all three symptoms need be present to indicate the presence of NPH. The timing of these symptoms as well as their degree of severity can vary greatly between NPH patients.
Diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
NPH is difficult to diagnose and often goes untreated for extended periods. Many of the usual ways of diagnosing this condition are often unreliable. NPH is frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease because of the symptoms it shares with these diseases (gait disturbances and dementia). NPH can also present alongside these conditions as well as other medical conditions. New methods are continually evolving for better diagnosis of this condition and even more importantly can more accurately predict those who may benefit from treatment of this otherwise disabling condition.
To learn more about our NPH program, call our NPH Care Coordinator at (407) 303-3282 or contact us online.
