Slow speech diagnosis
Common Questions and Answers about Slow speech diagnosis
speech
Husband was brought to the ER with a suspected TIA (sudden blurred spotty vision, weakness (bilaterally), slurred speech). They did blood work and a CT scan (which was normal) in the ER and released him with a referral to the Stroke Clinic.
April 8th
I took him back to the ER because he experience sudden (15-30 second) weakness in one hand and had an ongoing feeling of motion / slow vision like he was “on a boat”.
On the way to hospital everything slowed down in my mind and speech. I still have slurred, slow, jerky speech and twitching in my upper back when i walk. MRI, CT, blood tests, EEG all clear to rule out stroke or tumour or lesions. I was released with the neurologists saying it'll just go away in a few weeks. Even suggested psych review which again cleared me for any psychological issues. They said they have no explanation but are so confident it will go away. It's very frustrating.....
I have no other symptoms. My swallowing reflex is "different" but not hard. My speech is very bad and became that way very rapidly after diagnosis in October. It takes forever to get sentences out. I'm 68 and am going for a second opinion in January. Not that the diagnosis will be different but because my husband and I aren't happy with the attitude of the diagnosing neurologist and we are going to San Francisco where they have had more experience. We live in the Bay area.
Delayed speech with heaviness and numbness in the tongue can all lead to slurred speech or dysarthria. Dysarthria refers to slow and distorted speech, such as slurring. It results from the inability to control or coordinate the muscles used in speaking. It could be caused due to traumatic head injury, stroke, bell’s palsy, degenerative diseases of the brain etc.
I think in your mother’s case it could most probably be stroke or bell’s palsy.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a diagnosis. However she should also be seen by a speech and language therapist to assess her own speech abilities and her ability to follow language (as you say she appears to forget familiar words, doesn't respond to directions/questions etc). The speech therapist should also assess her working memory, auditory memory, social skills etc.
My grandson, Jaidyn, has been receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapy since before he turned one. I was pretty sure he had CP because of his difficult birth, but he had appointments with four child developmental specialists on Tuesday August 6th, 2013. These specialists were in the fields of speech, hearing, co-ordination and language. He was diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder and Receptive/Expressive Language Disorder.
What does this mean for his future?
Dear M,
As you may know, we are volunteers here and not medical professionals. We do have considerable experience with Type 1 diabetes.
It is possible that stress has had an impact on your son's speech and the stress may well have pre-dated his official diagnosis, where it may've been brought on by not feeling well, not being able to express what felt wrong, and/or detecting stress reactions in family members responding to his needs.
I have a 2 1/2 yr old son who has speech delay and had some intense sensory integration issues. We began speech at 18 months and was diagnosed with apraxia. Fortunately working with him daily and with a therapist he's advanced to near average. His one word ability is awesome and he's beginning his 2 and 3 word sentences. He's gotten over much of his vestibular issues and other tactile ones over time and is near normal.
I used to think this was worse than it is, but this seems fairly common.
I agree with the others that his hearing needs to be thoroughly checked, and I'd go to a speech path at this point for an assessment.
The fact that everything else is on track is a really good sign.
Recently (about three months ago) I began experiencing slurred speech and am often at a loss of words (which is a problem since I am an English teacher). This seems to be increasing in occurrence recently. I am very active and healthy (128lbs, 5' 6''). I exercise regularly and eat pretty well. I do not drink alcohol, smoke, or partake in any other illegal substances. I do not drink coffee, but I do drink caffeinated diet pop (between 12-24 oz. a day). I am not on any medications.
She also has problems swallowing and gets what she calls the jitters, internally. She has no problem with speech, mobility, however, she is slow in her movements, but not shuffling. great strenght in her arms and legs.
At the time of diagnosis, she had been taking Raglan for nausia. I asked if she could be having side effects from this medication. The neurologist said no. She has been taking it for 15 years.. Just in the last few days, she has stopped taking the Raglan, except in the morning.
A month after his third birthday he was actually diagnosed with ADHD. I understand this diagnosis its rarely given before 5 due to"toddler symptoms" being similar. So I hope that gives you some idea of how severe this is. The neurologist that diagnosed him said it was the worst case he had seen in his 20 years. He also held off on actually giving us a diagnosis so he could be e evaluated for other conditions and disabilities without the ADHD diagnosis influencing their determination.
He hates being alone, apears to look to others for ques how to act at all times, has very poor social skills, takes things very literal, and has clear speech but it is still hard to understand what he is trying to say because of the content of his sentences.
He also gets concusions from simple falls that would not affect other people the way they do him.
I have been trying to get him help since he was very young (2) but still do not feel he has been properly diagnosed.
The doctor promoted speech therapy and said there was nothing to worry about. I also took him to a child neurologist for an exam. The neurologist also did not seem to think anything was wrong. He also mentioned speech therapy and time. However the school district evaluated my son with specialists and said that he was possibly autistic. I don't know what to think. I know my son have some problems and is slow but I'm not comfortable with Autism.
If he has semantic speech difficulties google Semantic Pragmatic Speech Disorder. But bear in mind that the loss of a diagnosis could mean he doesn't receive supports as an adult. This is only my opinion, but I want all professionals who come into contact with my son to know that he is on the autistic spectrum so that he is treated appropriately. My son is high functioning autistic and goes to a mainstream school.
8 weeks ago I had a sudden onset of heavy coordination and slurred, very slow speech. I was hospitalized as they thought I had a stroke. My hands curled towards me and my legs dragged as I walked into the ER. They did a CT scan, MRI, MRA, chest X-ray and blood work. The speech therapist said that it seemed as though my problem was coming from 2 parts of my brain, lower and higher in the brain. My eyes wanted to fix in a daze and I seemed distant although I knew everything going on around me.
In any case, absolutely pursue early intervention for any and all delays whether they be motor or speech. Even if he does not receive a diagnosis, the extra therapy can be enormously helpful. Regardless of diagnosis, if he’s delayed in some areas, he could use the extra help. So, do your best to make sure he gets it.
s just a little behind. The doctor promoted speech therapy and said there was nothing to worry about. I also took him to a child neurologist for an exam. The neurologist also did not seem to think anything was wrong. He also mentioned speech therapy and time. However the school district evaluated my son with specialists and said that he was possibly autistic. I don't know what to think. I know my son have some problems and is slow but I'm not comfortable with Autism.
My 2 1/2 year old son was diagnosed with autism. He is definately speech delayed, that is true. He makes eye contact, is very loving and affectionate (he loves to pat me on the forehead and also pat his own forehead, playing with his hair or mine...many times a day), Dalton knows people who are familiar to him, and can recognize me in a mall or himself in photos.
Dalton does not mind any changes in his schedule, but likes to line things up.
Hi,
For about a month, I have been having episodes with a variety of symptoms that have included of slow/slurred speech, muscle weakness in my arms/hands (both), droopy right eye, difficulty focusing, concentrating, articulating, and finishing/forming thoughts. The episodes last around 15-20 minutes. My small motor control in my hands seems to be affected as well as my legs feel kind of rubbery and slow. Everything seems to slow down.
3 words at age 2 is way behind in language and she would qualify for speech therapy at the least. There probably is a reason for her screaming and crying, but she can't communicate that reason to you. My daughter has tantrums really bad. I think if she could communicate why, she wouldn't have some of them. Or at least I could remedy what was wrong in some of the instances.
From the discussion and diagnosis he has been given, it sounds to me like he is on the spectrum (as he has a speech disorder) and problems with receptive speech and social interaction.
Regarding getting a 'label'. All professionals are individuals themselves and they will have their own thoughts on what they think is the most useful diagnosis, if any, for a child. Some think that a label stigmatizes a child.
Thank you for your response to my post regarding my son Reilly who is now three and has echolalic speech and behavioural problems also. I receive a diagnosis for Reilly on the 15th February. It was something I was prepared for and relieved that we can now move on down the path of early intervention, however I must admit it is a blow to a mothers system of emotions because no one wants their child to struggle. Reilly was diagnosed with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.
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