Starting in February 2021, I went through a series of tests: my ability with words, short-term memory, drawing (copying shapes), speech. I had to wait a long time for that next stage. Then, in late September 2020, with Helen, I saw a neuropsychologist, who recommended that I undergo a professional assessment. Despite his reluctance, I insisted a few days later on being referred to a specialist at a nearby London hospital.Ĭovid restrictions and unprecedented pressure on the NHS delayed my first appointment by several weeks. “You sound fine to me,” he told me during our phone consultation. Finally, I contacted my GP, who was initially dismissive about my speech concerns. Still, my slow response, and not being able to answer an entirely reasonable question in sufficient detail, were worrying. I felt embarrassed because I was less articulate than usual – “lost for words”, as the saying goes.Īpart from myself, I didn’t think anyone would have noticed, particularly as the interview involved an Arabic interpreter. I can’t remember which one or what the topic was – probably the Middle East, my main area of expertise, or possibly Brexit. It wasn’t a casual chat with my wife, Helen, or our two daughters, or my son who lives in the US, but a Skype or Zoom interview about international affairs with a TV channel. I t was in the summer of 2020 – at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic – that I first noticed a problem.
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