When assessing a client with moderate anxiety, which finding is expected?

In the context of moderate anxiety, difficulty concentrating is a common symptom. As anxiety levels increase, cognitive functions can be affected, leading to challenges in focusing on tasks or maintaining attention. This can result in the individual feeling overwhelmed or unable to process information effectively, which is characteristic of moderate anxiety.

While the other symptoms, such as being easily distracted, difficulty sleeping, and exhibiting rapid speech, may also be seen in individuals with varying levels of anxiety, they can be more specific to other anxiety levels or conditions. For instance, difficulty sleeping is a common concern among those with anxiety, but it may not be as directly associated with moderate anxiety as concentration issues. Being easily distracted might not be a consistent finding in all cases of moderate anxiety, as some individuals may still manage to focus on certain stimuli or tasks despite their anxiety. Rapid speech can be more characteristic of higher levels of anxiety, where individuals may exhibit a flight of ideas due to heightened nervous energy.

Thus, the expected finding of difficulty concentrating is directly related to the cognitive effects of moderate anxiety, making it the most appropriate choice in this scenario.