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What Causes Sudden Slurred Speech?
This afternoon my husband started talking gibberish - he would be telling me something but all the words he was saying were not real words. He could understand me, but could not speak using words that made sense. I asked him to write what he was trying to say; he could not do that either. It did not last very long - 15 or 20 minutes, and he said he felt fine. Some sort of stroke???
Wed, 20 Dec 2017
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Thanks for contacting with your health concern
1. As there was a history of having trouble talking, incoherent speech unable to complete sentence, thus it probably was a mini-stroke or TIA [transient ischaemic attack] and because time has passed and now asymptomatic, consult a neurologist for relevant examination and blood work with CT- scan to confirm or exclude the same diagnosis.
2. You can have a stroke and yet don't know it since symptoms caused by mini-stroke can be undetectable if the tissue damaged by it does not serve a critical function.
PS. unlike a stroke, TIA doesn't kill brain tissue or cause permanent disabilities but since symptoms are nearly identical you should seek medical attention at once [since people with TIA can later experience a stroke]
3. Since TIA lasts for as briefly as one minute so, by the time your doctor evaluates, you will be asymptomatic so you have to describe the events after your symptoms have disappeared.
4. apart from medical examination one has to look out for any associated risk factor that can contribute to TIA/stroke, like:
. blood pressure, blood sugar.
. lipid profile, overweight.
5. The only way to tell the difference as to what has happened [TIA or stroke] is to get a Neurologist opinion along with necessary investigation like C.T or M.R.I. scan, who may also check with
- carotid ultrasound.
- echocardiogram [for any blood clots].
- EKG & Chest X-ray.
6. Only after exhaustive examination and investigation, treatment will be initiated by starting or adjusting medications that improve blood flow to the brain [antiplatelets/anticoagulants], along with lifestyle modifications like:
- maintain ideal body weight
- regular exercise, low salt intake
- eating fresh fruits & vegetables
- reducing undue physical/mental stress.
- routine blood investigations and keeping the level within normal limits.
- proper and adequate sleep.
PS. Other causes which have to be excluded are:
- bell's palsy
- Sarcoidosis.
- Parotid Tumor.
- Herpes zoster infection.
- Middle ear disease
- exposure to cold or chill
Thanks for contacting with your health concern
1. As there was a history of having trouble talking, incoherent speech unable to complete sentence, thus it probably was a mini-stroke or TIA [transient ischaemic attack] and because time has passed and now asymptomatic, consult a neurologist for relevant examination and blood work with CT- scan to confirm or exclude the same diagnosis.
2. You can have a stroke and yet don't know it since symptoms caused by mini-stroke can be undetectable if the tissue damaged by it does not serve a critical function.
PS. unlike a stroke, TIA doesn't kill brain tissue or cause permanent disabilities but since symptoms are nearly identical you should seek medical attention at once [since people with TIA can later experience a stroke]
3. Since TIA lasts for as briefly as one minute so, by the time your doctor evaluates, you will be asymptomatic so you have to describe the events after your symptoms have disappeared.
4. apart from medical examination one has to look out for any associated risk factor that can contribute to TIA/stroke, like:
. blood pressure, blood sugar.
. lipid profile, overweight.
5. The only way to tell the difference as to what has happened [TIA or stroke] is to get a Neurologist opinion along with necessary investigation like C.T or M.R.I. scan, who may also check with
- carotid ultrasound.
- echocardiogram [for any blood clots].
- EKG & Chest X-ray.
6. Only after exhaustive examination and investigation, treatment will be initiated by starting or adjusting medications that improve blood flow to the brain [antiplatelets/anticoagulants], along with lifestyle modifications like:
- maintain ideal body weight
- regular exercise, low salt intake
- eating fresh fruits & vegetables
- reducing undue physical/mental stress.
- routine blood investigations and keeping the level within normal limits.
- proper and adequate sleep.
PS. Other causes which have to be excluded are:
- bell's palsy
- Sarcoidosis.
- Parotid Tumor.
- Herpes zoster infection.
- Middle ear disease
- exposure to cold or chill
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