In communicating hydrocephalus, the fluid pathways are open, but the brain still can’t drain properly. Pressure builds slowly, so signs often creep in over weeks or months.

The first clue is a gait that feels “stuck.” Each step is short, shuffling, and glued to the floor; turning around takes several small pivots instead of one smooth move.

Urge incontinence follows. You feel fine, then suddenly must reach a bathroom within seconds. At night, the trip may come too late.

Thinking turns murky. Short-term memory slips—why you opened the fridge, where the car keys live. Conversations pause while you hunt for everyday words.

Headache is mild but constant, worse in the morning or when bending down to tie shoes. Nausea may appear, yet vomiting is rare.

Mood can flatten. Jokes that once brought laughs now draw blank stares. Apathy grows, and family members complain you “just sit there.”

Vision sometimes blurs at the edges, giving tunnel-like sight, but eye pain is uncommon.