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Slurred speech, or dysarthria, is a common disorder that affects much of the elderly population. The condition occurs when the muscles of the mouth, face and throat become weakened and stop working properly. As people age, they begin to lose muscle mass all over their body.
What is slurred speech a symptom of?
Common causes of speech disorders include alcohol or drug poisoning, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and neuromuscular disorders. Neuromuscular disorders that often cause slurred speech include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease.
Is slurred speech a symptom of dementia?
Symptoms of vascular dementia include: confusion. slurred speech. problems thinking or remembering.
When should I be concerned about slurred speech?
“If you are experiencing slurred speech that comes on suddenly or with other symptoms that can be consistent with a stroke,” said Daniels, “it’s very important to seek immediate help.” Symptoms of stroke include: paralysis. numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body.
What can cause speech problems in elderly?
Causes of adult speech impairment stroke. traumatic brain injury. degenerative neurological or motor disorder. injury or illness that affects your vocal cords. dementia.
Does slurred speech always mean a stroke?
Stroke. Trouble speaking, along with having a numb or drooping face and feeling weak in one arm or a leg, is one of the major signs of stroke. When the oxygen supply has been cut off to your brain by a blood clot, you could have slurred speech or be hard to understand, or be unable to talk at all.
What is a silent stroke?
A silent stroke refers to a stroke that doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms. Most strokes are caused by a clot that blocks a blood vessel in the brain. The blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching that area, causing nearby brain cells to die.
What does slurring your words mean?
Slurred speech is a symptom characterized by poor pronunciation of words, mumbling, or a change in speed or rhythm during talking. The medical term for slurred speech is dysarthria.
What medications cause slurred?
Some may mumble or slur words, have uneven speech, speak softly or speak too slow or too fast.Some specific drugs that have been associated with dysarthria include: Carbamazepine. Irinotecan. Lithium. Onabotulinum toxin A (Botox) Phenytoin. Trifluoperazine.
Can hypertension cause slurred speech?
High blood pressure, heart attacks, exhaustion, concussions, and other brain injuries can all affect the brain. These effects on the brain create malfunctions, which may be what is causing a sudden change in speech.
Does dehydration cause slurred speech?
According to Mayo Clinic, severe dehydration can lead to mental confusion and disorientation. This might present as “brain fog” and could be as dramatic as slurred speech or extreme forgetfulness. If you or someone you know is experiencing this symptom, it’s definitely time to seek medical attention.
How does stroke cause slurred speech?
Motor speech disorders Some stroke survivors may have slurred or garbled speech as a result of muscle weakness (dysarthria) or difficulty with motor programming and coordination of the speech muscles (apraxia).
What slurred means?
(slɜːd) adjective. indistinct and difficult to hear or understand. Her speech was so slurred as to be almost incomprehensible. One of the early symptoms of the disease is slurred speech.
How do I fix slurred speech?
You may be unable to control the quality, intonation, and pace at which you speak. Your speech may become slow or slurred. As a result, it may be difficult for others to understand what you’re trying to say. The specific speech impairments that you experience will depend on the underlying cause of your dysarthria.
Why do I suddenly have a lisp?
Most lisps are caused by wrong tongue placements in the mouth, which in turn obstructs air flow from the inside of the mouth, causing the distortion of words and syllables. Tongue-ties are also considered a probable cause of lisping.
How do you fix a lisp in an adult?
3 Effective Strategies to Get Rid of a Lisp Start by raising the side of your tongue, like a butterfly’s wing. Slightly touch the back teeth with your tongue. This is to ensure that the tip won’t extend beyond the front teeth. Pronounce the “s” sound for thirty seconds and then the “z” sound for another thirty seconds.
Can heart problems cause slurred speech?
Atherosclerosis symptoms If in the arteries leading to your brain, you may experience a sudden numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, difficulty speaking or slurred speech, or drooping muscles in your face. If in your coronary (heart) arteries, you may experience chest pain, shortness of breath or heart attack.
Can being tired cause slurred speech?
A lack of sleep alters the brain to such a degree that a person sounds drunk when they speak, according to a US study. Bystanders might describe this type of speech as “tired-sounding” or “slurred,” but experts studying the phenomenon say those descriptions aren’t quite accurate.
What are the 5 warning signs of a stroke?
The five warning signs of stroke are: Sudden onset of weakness or numbness on one side of the body. Sudden speech difficulty or confusion. Sudden difficulty seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden onset of dizziness, trouble walking or loss of balance. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
What are the signs of a pending stroke?
Signs of Stroke in Men and Women Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination.
What time of day do most strokes occur?
Strokes are most likely to occur during two two-hour periods, one in the morning, and the other in the evening, research suggests. Japanese scientists, who examined 12,957 cases, found the risk peaked between 6am and 8am and 6pm and 8pm. Risk was lowest during sleep.
