Degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and certain Ataxias can all lead to slurred speech as they progress. Other brain disorders such as traumatic brain injuries or strokes can lead to slurred speech as well.Apr 14, 2014
It could potentially be debilitating and require immediate medical attention. Strokes are one of the leading causes of slurred speech in the elderly. 2. Heart attack. This severely disrupts normal circulation of blood. It also causes pain, exhaustion, and shortness of breath, all of which interfere with speech. 3.

What causes slurred speech other than a stroke?

Slurred speech can be caused by disease or damage affecting the muscle and nerves of the vocal cords, mouth, or tongue. These neuromuscular causes include: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, severe neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and disability)

Is slurred speech a sign of dementia?

Specific symptoms may include confusion, slurred speech , or impaired thinking. This type of vascular dementia is also known as multi-infarct dementia . Less often, vascular dementia develops after a person experiences a major stroke (one that blocks a large blood vessel and causes significant brain damage).

Can 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 does occasional slurred speech mean?

Slurring your words can be commonly caused by exhaustion or alcohol consumption. More serious causes of dysarthria, or sudden slurred speech , include stroke, abnormal growth or injury to the airways, or brain damage.

Why am I suddenly slurring my words?

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.

Are there warning signs days before a stroke?

– Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

How do I fix slurred speech?

How is dysarthria treated? Increase tongue and lip movement. Strengthen your speech muscles. Slow the rate at which you speak. Improve your breathing for louder speech . Improve your articulation for clearer speech . Practice group communication skills. Test your communication skills in real-life situations.

Can a pinched nerve cause slurred speech?

A pinched or damaged nerve in your spine may lead to blurred vision or headaches, loss of hearing, slurred speech , and bowel and bladder problems, to name a few.

What are the signs of end stage vascular dementia?

These include: speech limited to single words or phrases that may not make sense, needing help with most everyday activities, eating less and having difficulties swallowing, bowel and bladder incontinence, being unable to walk or stand, problems sitting up and controlling the head, and becoming bed-bound.

Can lack of sleep cause slurred speech?

Sleep deprivation mimics the effects of drinking alcohol—you may experience slurred speech and uncontrolled reflexive movements of the eye called nystagmus. You may also develop a slight shakiness or tremor in your hands. Some people even have a more pronounced droopiness in their eyelids, called ptosis.

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.

Why do I forget words when speaking?

When you forget a word, it has not disappeared from memory; it is still there, but in the moment of speaking something is preventing it from being fully retrieved. The inability to find words can indicate brain injury or infection, strokes, and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Can dysarthria go away?

Dysarthria caused by medicines or poorly fitting dentures can be reversed. Dysarthria caused by a stroke or brain injury will not get worse, and may improve. Dysarthria after surgery to the tongue or voice box should not get worse, and may improve with therapy.