The ability to maintain a consistent behavioral response during continuous or repetitive activity. The ability to maintain a cognitive set which requires activation and inhibition of responses dependent upon discrimination of stimuli. The capacity for mental flexibility which allows for moving between tasks having different cognitive requirements. The ability to simultaneously respond to multiple tasks. These individuals can be the most objective at measuring, selectively treating and determining accuracy and progress.
Focused attention is one of the first skills addressed as an injured individual emerges from coma.
Clinicians are trained to watch for specific reactions to various types of sounds, images, touch and movement that are different from generalized reactions, reflexive behaviors, or aversive reactions commonly noted when people are emerging from a coma. These specific responses can gradually be shaped by appropriately sequenced basic instructions. This work is best done by a rehabilitation specialist or under the supervision of such an individual, who can best identify and appropriately shape responses. Sustained attention involves repeating this focused attention over time. Many individuals find they soon begin tiring, or find it difficult to continue doing well on a task, even when there are no distractions.