Understanding Slurred Speech After Traumatic Brain Injury
Are you experiencing slurred speech after an accident or a severe blow to the head? This is a relatively common injury known as dysarthria, and it occurs for a wide range of reasons, including a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Dysarthria affects the muscles of the face, mouth, and upper respiratory system, all of which contribute to speech control. The result is slurred speech, which can be frustrating and extremely scary.
Here’s everything you need to know about this condition.
Page Contents
What is Slurred Speech?
What is dysarthria? Dysarthria is a motor speech condition that results in slurred speech.
In short, this disorder takes place when there is damage to the nervous system that causes muscles in your face to weaken or become paralyzed, thus making it difficult to control your tongue, pronounce words properly, and even result in slurring of words.
Here, it’s important to note that up to 60% of TBI victims experience dysarthria, which makes this a relatively common side effect of a bad blow to the head.
Dysarthria Symptoms
Now that we’ve covered the dysarthria definition, let’s go over common symptoms associated with this condition.
- Slurred and mumbled speech
- Inability or difficulties moving the lips, tongue, and jaws smoothly
- Strained, nasal, and forced voice
- Trouble maintaining a steady speaking pace and volume
If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms after a traumatic brain injury, you should seek medical attention and contact an attorney right away. Click to find out more about the symptoms of traumatic brain injury.
Why Do Blows to the Head Cause Slurred Speech?
TBIs are among the leading causes of slurred speech, along with strokes, brain tumors, and conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease. TBI dysarthria is often temporary and can be resolved with rehabilitation, but it’s important to note that even minor concussions can cause slurred speech.
As such, it’s essential to seek medical attention immediately. At the same time, you should analyze the context of your accident that led to the blow to the head to determine whether or not it was caused by a third party and get compensation for your injuries if this was the case.
How to Treat Dysarthria
If you are looking for sudden slurred speech causes, it’s important to determine if you have recently suffered a blow to the head and, if so, how long ago.
Some TBI symptoms can take weeks or months to appear, so it’s important to consider all potential blows to the head when figuring out how to treat your slurred speech.
The treatment for dysarthria depends on a few variables. When due to a stroke or a similar condition, rehabilitation and medication can help resolve slurred speech.
As for TBIs, speech therapy is the first step, but you may also get medication and other resources to help support your journey to recovery.
Is Dysarthria the Same as Speech Dyspraxia?
Dysarthria and dyspraxia are not the same, but it’s important to note that they are very similar and can occur in tandem and for the same reasons.
Dyspraxia occurs when the brain can’t send the right instructions to the face and mouth muscles, making it difficult to speak. As we’ve covered before, dysarthria affects the muscles responsible for speech or nervous pathways that control them, but the messaging from the brain is not the issue.
Getting Compensated for Your Injuries
Suffering from dysarthria is no joke—it can be a sign that the brain damage you suffered is much worse than the pain may suggest.
If your injuries were due to the inaction or negligence of another party, you may be able to claim compensation and get the resources you need to focus on making a full recovery.
Your best bet is to find legal assistance from experienced attorneys and file a claim against the responsible individual or entity.
Contact the Brain Injury Law of Seattle Today
Suffering from slurred speech can be frightening, especially if it has a delayed onset and starts manifesting itself days or weeks after your accident. After all, blows to the head can damage nervous pathways as well as facial muscles that help control speech and ultimately cause a TBI that results in dysarthria.
If you experienced or are still displaying difficulty speaking due to an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may qualify for compensation to help cover all your losses. At Brain Injury Law of Seattle, we’ve helped countless TBI victims who have experienced dysarthria as a result of their injuries.
Contact us today to find out how we can help and get the resources you need to make a full recovery.
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M.W., Kent, WA
"M.W. was riding his bicycle in a bike lane in Kent. He was a 24 year old elite cyclist in excellent shape. A driver of a truck in the lane next to him suddenly turned right and nicked M.W., making him fall off his bike. He was wearing his helmet. However, when he fell to the ground, his head struck the pavement along with his left shoulder. "
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