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What Causes Slurred Speech Post Suffering A Concussion?
Question: I was hit in the head in oct 2013 and since 2015 I have been mixing up my words, cloudy mind, and forgetfulness
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Some more information might be useful on the diagnostic steps that were done in 2013 or this past year. Being hit on the head consequences vary a lot depending on the intensity and mechanism of the hit, may range from no damage at all to severe disabling brain damage. So I wonder whether you had any symptoms after the hit at the time and whether you had brain imaging and what were its findings.
If there was indeed brain damage with loss of brain matter from the hit to cause the current symptoms I am afraid that some consequences like the issues you describe may remain, and there is not any specific treatment about that.
On the other hand you say that the symptoms have appeared since 2015, which would raise the possibility of them not being related to the hit if you had been feeling well in the meantime. In that case the first step would be neuropsychological tests to assess your cognitive functions, sort of dedicated questionnaires evaluating different higher mental functions like memory, language, judgement etc. These tests are necessary to assess if there is a real objective impairment of cognition as at times there can be no cognitive impairment but issues like depression or anxiety affecting concentration and leading to the above mentioned symptoms.
If the tests show that there is indeed cognitive impairment then some more tests are necessary to search for possible causes such as blood tests for blood count, glucose, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, thyroid function, vitamin B12 levels as well as brain imaging ideally with MRI in order to exclude issues such as stroke, tumors etc.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Some more information might be useful on the diagnostic steps that were done in 2013 or this past year. Being hit on the head consequences vary a lot depending on the intensity and mechanism of the hit, may range from no damage at all to severe disabling brain damage. So I wonder whether you had any symptoms after the hit at the time and whether you had brain imaging and what were its findings.
If there was indeed brain damage with loss of brain matter from the hit to cause the current symptoms I am afraid that some consequences like the issues you describe may remain, and there is not any specific treatment about that.
On the other hand you say that the symptoms have appeared since 2015, which would raise the possibility of them not being related to the hit if you had been feeling well in the meantime. In that case the first step would be neuropsychological tests to assess your cognitive functions, sort of dedicated questionnaires evaluating different higher mental functions like memory, language, judgement etc. These tests are necessary to assess if there is a real objective impairment of cognition as at times there can be no cognitive impairment but issues like depression or anxiety affecting concentration and leading to the above mentioned symptoms.
If the tests show that there is indeed cognitive impairment then some more tests are necessary to search for possible causes such as blood tests for blood count, glucose, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, thyroid function, vitamin B12 levels as well as brain imaging ideally with MRI in order to exclude issues such as stroke, tumors etc.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I was hit with an extended arm from a man taller than me and didn't see it coming.
My ear was cut but I didn't feel any different. This did start in 2015 and not before as far as the mixing words. I do have a lot on my mind all the time and talk very fast. I was talking to someone and said hold on I am on the phone and i was talking to someone else in front of me. I felt like an idiot. I have also within the year said ladder instead of gate.
I was put under anistesia years ago in 2008 for my galbladder to be taken out and it took 30 days for my mind to clear and it did.
I was put under again a couple of years later for dental and my fogginess never
cleared up that time.
But this mixing of words started in 2015. I have been taking lorazapam to sleep since 2010. That is the only other thing i can think of. I talk very fast without thinking of what is coming out of my mouth. I multi task a lot. If I talk slower and think of what i am saying i don't believe this mixing of words would occur.
I am getting my usual blood test done on the 17th and just had a physical on Oct 12th. It is just crazy for something so incorrect to come out of my mouth.
I would also like to ask you a question about my fiance who really doesn't like to drink anything. He drinks from the fountain during the day and maybe two glasses of water at super. Takes his vitamin with little milk that was in his bowl from his cereal. That is it. what advise if any would you give me for him if any.
My ear was cut but I didn't feel any different. This did start in 2015 and not before as far as the mixing words. I do have a lot on my mind all the time and talk very fast. I was talking to someone and said hold on I am on the phone and i was talking to someone else in front of me. I felt like an idiot. I have also within the year said ladder instead of gate.
I was put under anistesia years ago in 2008 for my galbladder to be taken out and it took 30 days for my mind to clear and it did.
I was put under again a couple of years later for dental and my fogginess never
cleared up that time.
But this mixing of words started in 2015. I have been taking lorazapam to sleep since 2010. That is the only other thing i can think of. I talk very fast without thinking of what is coming out of my mouth. I multi task a lot. If I talk slower and think of what i am saying i don't believe this mixing of words would occur.
I am getting my usual blood test done on the 17th and just had a physical on Oct 12th. It is just crazy for something so incorrect to come out of my mouth.
I would also like to ask you a question about my fiance who really doesn't like to drink anything. He drinks from the fountain during the day and maybe two glasses of water at super. Takes his vitamin with little milk that was in his bowl from his cereal. That is it. what advise if any would you give me for him if any.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
Now that you describe the hit I do not think that it is to blame, doesn't seem enough to cause any brain damage. Regarding the issues that you describe one possibility would be the use of lorazepam. Lorazepam (like all the drugs of the benzodiazepine class) can affect cognitive functions. In fact they are not advised to be used for long term like you seem to have done.
The other possibility is simply that of anxiety which as I mentioned before affects concentration and is often mistaken for true impairment of higher mental functions. Lorazepam use may have masked it a little initially as it is an antianxiety medication but over the years it develops tolerance, same dose is not effective anymore. If medication is to be used for long term anxiety treatment antidepressants are the preferred choice. Psychotherapy, physical exercise, activities like yoga are other non medication options.
The other possibility would be that of true impairment of cognitive functions. However I do not see that as likely, not from those episodes you describe and the circumstances in which they happened. If you still want to explore that path though as I said in my previous answer neuropsychological tests are the first step. Only if they reveal significant abnormalities is there a need for more testing.
As for your fiancé....water intake needs are variable, they differ from one person to the other depending on weight, physical activity, climate etc. Generally speaking for a male about 2.5-3 liters of water intake a day is advised. However we do not take water only from drinking it, water is in other beverages taken during the day and also in foods, some fruits contain up to 90% of water. So if one is not thirsty and produces enough urine quantity (of at least 1-1.5 liters per day) I wouldn't add much, simply try to take water after intense physical activity.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for the additional information.
Now that you describe the hit I do not think that it is to blame, doesn't seem enough to cause any brain damage. Regarding the issues that you describe one possibility would be the use of lorazepam. Lorazepam (like all the drugs of the benzodiazepine class) can affect cognitive functions. In fact they are not advised to be used for long term like you seem to have done.
The other possibility is simply that of anxiety which as I mentioned before affects concentration and is often mistaken for true impairment of higher mental functions. Lorazepam use may have masked it a little initially as it is an antianxiety medication but over the years it develops tolerance, same dose is not effective anymore. If medication is to be used for long term anxiety treatment antidepressants are the preferred choice. Psychotherapy, physical exercise, activities like yoga are other non medication options.
The other possibility would be that of true impairment of cognitive functions. However I do not see that as likely, not from those episodes you describe and the circumstances in which they happened. If you still want to explore that path though as I said in my previous answer neuropsychological tests are the first step. Only if they reveal significant abnormalities is there a need for more testing.
As for your fiancé....water intake needs are variable, they differ from one person to the other depending on weight, physical activity, climate etc. Generally speaking for a male about 2.5-3 liters of water intake a day is advised. However we do not take water only from drinking it, water is in other beverages taken during the day and also in foods, some fruits contain up to 90% of water. So if one is not thirsty and produces enough urine quantity (of at least 1-1.5 liters per day) I wouldn't add much, simply try to take water after intense physical activity.
Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Wow i read the information on long term use and abuse of lorazapam. I think you are right. I only took 1 mg once a night but for a long time since the end of 2010 but i have a lot of the symptoms.
Ok I will slowly wean my self off of the medication as stopping abruptly seems to cause other problems. Do you feel I will eventually get my brain back together, stop feeling cloudy, slightly confused, mixing up common words, uneasy about talking to people and be bright again?
Ok I will slowly wean my self off of the medication as stopping abruptly seems to cause other problems. Do you feel I will eventually get my brain back together, stop feeling cloudy, slightly confused, mixing up common words, uneasy about talking to people and be bright again?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
There is a good chance that if the issue is related to lorazepam it is reversible. That won't happen overnight though but gradually as the brain has to gradually adapt neurotransmitter levels to a new balance.
However as I said there is also the possibility that anxiety is a potential contributor to the symptoms as well, in that case some symptoms may persist due to the concentration difficulties anxiety is often associated with.
I hope you'll feel better soon.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
There is a good chance that if the issue is related to lorazepam it is reversible. That won't happen overnight though but gradually as the brain has to gradually adapt neurotransmitter levels to a new balance.
However as I said there is also the possibility that anxiety is a potential contributor to the symptoms as well, in that case some symptoms may persist due to the concentration difficulties anxiety is often associated with.
I hope you'll feel better soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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