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Neurology (Expert Forum)
speech problems
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
speech problems
by nancy, Aug 24, 2000 12:00AM
I have been having speech problems for almost 1 year now. It is hard to explain it, but I feel like I have to exert myself to speak and sometimes I stumble or slightly slur my words. It feels like my lips or tongue are not forming the words correctly. It is barely noticeable to other people. Sometimes I feel like I barely have enough breathe to complete a sentence. I started having these symptoms following a root canal and six weeks after having a baby. I also have problems with my ears feeling plugged up and a constant post nasal drip (clear). I also get tired out when chewing food and my tongue occasionally has a burning sensation when I speak. I have been to many doctors over the past year and have tried many medications. My biggest fear is the possiblity of having ALS, but 2 emgs at 4 months and 7 months into symptoms were negative. My neuromuscular dr. at top notch hospital says I do not have ALS and he doesn't know what I have, but I have read about people that have speech symptoms and then a few years later are dx with ALS...or rather a more atypical form of ALS. I'm not quite sure what to think or who to believe. I'm not really having swallowing difficulties. I am age 32. I had MRI and basic blood work. A cat scan showed that I have a deviated septum and now my doctor says to get tested for allergies. I have tried to not worry about these odd symptoms and have even gone on prozac to rule out any psychological stress that may be causing this although I don't really feel depressed or overly anxious. Nothing has really helped. Can you point me in any direction and should I still be concerned about ALS? Thank you for your help.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS, Aug 24, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Nancy:
Sorry to hear about your problem speaking. I am not sure that based on what I read, I can help sort things out for you. I don't think that you have ALS. By the time a patient has noticable symptoms, especially with bulbar symptoms, the EMG should have been positive for muscle necrosis or loss. This type of ALS is more progressive and the time of symptoms onset to death is usually shorter (1-2 yr). The normal MRI and blood work rule out many of the worrisome etiologies of bulbar symptoms. Since the EMG was also normal, there is likely not a neuropathy involved. So, I am without a clear explanation. I am sorry I'm not much help.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
Sorry to hear about your problem speaking. I am not sure that based on what I read, I can help sort things out for you. I don't think that you have ALS. By the time a patient has noticable symptoms, especially with bulbar symptoms, the EMG should have been positive for muscle necrosis or loss. This type of ALS is more progressive and the time of symptoms onset to death is usually shorter (1-2 yr). The normal MRI and blood work rule out many of the worrisome etiologies of bulbar symptoms. Since the EMG was also normal, there is likely not a neuropathy involved. So, I am without a clear explanation. I am sorry I'm not much help.
Sincerely,
CCF Neuro MD
