Difficulty swallowing can be related to infections of the upper airway or to neurological problems that impair the swallowing process such as stroke or transient ischemic attack. Slurred speech can also be a sign of stroke or a drug reaction, including intoxication from drugs or alcohol.

What causes speech and swallowing problems?

Risk Factors: Language, speech, and swallowing disorders are commonly diagnosed in people with stroke, brain injury, lack of oxygen, tumors, birth defects, degenerative neurological diseases, and developmental problems. History and Symptoms: Symptoms will depend on the underlying causes of the disorder.

What can cause slurred speech besides a stroke?

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.

Can dysphagia cause slurred speech?

Dysphagia may be identified by the continued presence of one or more of the following symptoms: Dysarthria (imprecise or slurred speech) Poor lip closure/drooling. Collecting food in the mouth.

What causes sudden onset of slurred speech?

Dysarthria often causes slurred or slow speech that can be difficult to understand. Common causes of dysarthria include nervous system disorders and conditions that cause facial paralysis or tongue or throat muscle weakness. Certain medications also can cause dysarthria.

Approach to dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) - causes, pathophysiology, investigation

32 related questions found

Why can't I speak properly all of a sudden?

If you experience a sudden onset of impaired speech, seek medical attention right away. It might be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a stroke. If you develop impaired speech more gradually, make an appointment with your doctor. It may be a sign of an underlying health condition.

What drugs would cause slurred speech?

Barbiturates and benzodiazepines

Examples of benzodiazepines include sedatives, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax, Niravam), lorazepam (Ativan), clonazepam (Klonopin) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium). Signs and symptoms of recent use can include: Drowsiness. Slurred speech.

Do MS patients have trouble swallowing?

Dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing, can occur in people with MS. While more frequent in advanced disease, it can occur at any time. Both chewing and swallowing require a number of muscles in the mouth and throat to work in a coordinated way.

What are the signs that a person may have dysphagia?

Other signs of dysphagia include:

• coughing or choking when eating or drinking.
• bringing food back up, sometimes through the nose.
• a sensation that food is stuck in your throat or chest.
• persistent drooling of saliva.
• being unable to chew food properly.
• a gurgly, wet-sounding voice when eating or drinking.

What is the difference between dysarthria and apraxia?

People who live with apraxia have difficulty putting words together in the correct order or 'reaching' for the correct word while speaking. Dysarthria occurs when a patient's muscles do not coordinate together to produce 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.

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 neurological disorders cause speech problems?

The following neurologic disorders can have voice disorders included in the disease progression:

• ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.
• Myasthenia gravis.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Parkinson's disease.
• Essential tremor.
• Spasmodic dysphonia.

When should I be worried about trouble swallowing?

You should see your doctor to determine the cause of your swallowing difficulties. Call a doctor right away if you're also having trouble breathing or think something might be stuck in your throat. If you have sudden muscle weakness or paralysis and can't swallow at all, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

What are three disorders that cause swallowing?

Neurological conditions that can cause swallowing difficulties are: stroke (the most common cause of dysphagia); traumatic brain injury; cerebral palsy; Parkinson disease and other degenerative neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), multiple sclerosis, ...

What are three disorders that cause dysphagia?

Some neurological causes of dysphagia include:

• a stroke.
• neurological conditions that cause damage to the brain and nervous system over time, including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and motor neurone disease.
• brain tumours.
• myasthenia gravis – a rare condition that causes your muscles to become weak.

What is the most common cause of dysphagia?

Acid reflux disease is the most common cause of dysphagia. People with acid reflux may have problems in the esophagus, such as an ulcer, a stricture (narrowing of the esophagus), or less likely a cancer causing difficulty swallowing.

What are the most common complications of dysphagia?

The main complication of dysphagia is coughing and choking, which can lead to pneumonia.

• Coughing and choking. If you have dysphagia, there's a risk of food, drink or saliva going down the "wrong way". ...
• Aspiration pneumonia. ...
• Dysphagia in children.

What are the stages of dysphagia?

What is dysphagia?

• Oral preparatory phase. During this phase, you chew your food to a size, shape, and consistency that can be swallowed. ...
• Pharyngeal phase. Here, the muscles of your pharynx contract in sequence. ...
• Esophageal phase. The muscles in your esophagus contract in sequence to move the bolus toward your stomach.

What were your first signs of multiple sclerosis?

Common early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:

• vision problems.
• tingling and numbness.
• pains and spasms.
• weakness or fatigue.
• balance problems or dizziness.
• bladder issues.
• sexual dysfunction.
• cognitive problems.

What does MS dysphagia feel like?

According to the National MS Society, a person with dysphagia may experience the following: a feeling of food being stuck in the throat. unusual sensations in the mouth and throat. difficulty chewing and swallowing.

When should you suspect multiple sclerosis?

People should consider the diagnosis of MS if they have one or more of these symptoms: vision loss in one or both eyes. acute paralysis in the legs or along one side of the body. acute numbness and tingling in a limb.

Does slurred speech always mean a stroke?

Slurred speech may be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause. Slurred speech may be a symptom of serious or life-threatening condition, such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Can anxiety make you slur your words?

People who are anxious may feel like they can't keep up with their thoughts and may speak much faster as a result, which can cause stuttering or slurring. Communication difficulties due to anxiety may become even more apparent among people with other underlying speech impairments, as well.

Is there any treatment for dysarthria?

Treating dysarthria

They may recommend: strategies to improve speech, such as slowing speech down. exercises to improve the volume or clarity of speech. assistive devices, such as a simple alphabet board, an amplifier, or a computerised voice output system.