Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
2015036 tn?1332997788

Does anyone here deal with receptive aphasia?

I had a really scary episode this evening.  

I have been having a lot of trouble with speech lately, but at least I kmow what it is.  Tonight, at our religious meeting- I suddenly couldn't understand anything (I just learned this is called receptive aphasia).  And of course, I wasn't able to communicate either.

This problem, hearing speech-but with zero comprehension, has only happened twice before this evening.  Is there any treatment?

33 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
2015036 tn?1332997788
JJ!  You crack me up!  Thanks for the laugh
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Aghh yes, word substitution a giggle a minute, some of mine from today....

'sultana bran' instead of 'tile grout'

'sponge' instead of 'milk'

'hardware' store instead of 'supermarket'

'Thingy room' instead of 'lounge room'

And the list rolls on.....
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
JJ, thanks for the advice, as well as the website.  I think we may be watching this for a while... What are the odds that I will be having an EEG when I have an episode?  My doctor emailed me again today.  He said pretty much to same thing you did, when I said that I was not going to worry about it anymore.  

Laura and Buffy1970, It seems like a lot of people with MS have had this (or something like it) happen to them.  I don't think it's exactly a paroxysmal symptom- but who knows!  

I'm used to the stuttering/and word finding problems.  My friends and family are even getting used it when I substitute a completely different word than the one I wanted.  (Example: 'box' instead of 'belt', or worse, lol!)  

I'll restart this thread if I learn anything of value to anyone.  






Helpful - 0
1830047 tn?1321667793
Hi tammy!. I've had exactly what you're talking about and it can switch on and off in one very brief conversation. I've had someone speak and not understood a word of it for first few seconds and then play catch up during next few. I've also had trouble with reading. I get so busy hiding my symptoms from the world that I forget to tell doctor about them. Keep a log of when it happens and some information about what's going on before and after.  Docs have never been able to trigger a seizure but still suspect it bc of my episodes. Good luck.

Ps. On a positive note, I never had trouble with speech and writing at same time. Just explain to people and they will be patient. I had to have people explain even something as simple as two sentences for more than a month. It's frustrating but be patient.  It may resolve on its own.
Helpful - 0
2034625 tn?1392643292
This thread is really interesting to me since I've had something similar happen a few times. Once I was actually at the eye dr and he asked my husband if I had epilepsy.  We never really got an answer as to why this happens though.  

Have you considered the possibility of this being a paroxysmal symptom of ms? I'm new to this and not sure if this has already been discussed - not a sharp day here - but I thought it worth mentioning.  Something about this popped up on Facebook this week and it mentioned that paroxysmal symptoms can sometimes look like seizures.

Original link mentioned I saw in Italian if you use a browser that translates: http://www.aism.it/index.aspx?codpage=disturbi_parossistici

Similar links in English at a quick search: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/seizures/index.aspx
http://ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms/a/paroxysmal_utd.htm

-Laura



Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hey Tammy,

Sorry to say this kiddo but I'm pretty sure, that if the EEG didn't record one of these events you have, it doesn't mean that you still cant have epilepsy or what's happening has to be something other than seizures, if that is what your neuro suspects from what you've described, its still quite possible.

Our youngest was investigated for epilepsy when he was younger, his EEG was overly active but nothing else was found and it was explained to us at the time, that he could still be having epileptic seizures, the EEG isn't a definitive test, it is very possible that he just didn't have an event during the testing. Kids with Autism commonly have Epileptic seizures of some kind, so it was high on the list of possibilities, though it actually turned out to be silent contemplation.

lol He was just thinking and tuning out, which sounded and looked like 'Absence' seizures to everyone in the know. The penny dropped after I thought to ask him what he was doing and the frustrating little bugger said he was just thinking and didn't 'want' to answer, he even gave examples grrrr!

I've had this site saved for awhile, you might like to read through it

http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/AboutEpilepsy/Whatisepilepsy/Back2Basicsarticles/Seizuresclassification

Hugs.........JJ      
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
Hello!  I got my EEG results back today.  I don't have epilepsy, but my neuro still thinks it was a seizure.  For right now, I'm just supposed to keep up with taking my gabapentin.  It was originally meant to be an anti-seizure medication.  We are going to "wait and see" what happens now.

I've done more research on my own though.  I think it may have been an atypical migraine (aphasic migraine).  I don't remember a headache, but I guess you don't always have a recognizable headache with this type of migraine.  The same symptoms do occur in ms, but with flares, they usually last until the flare is over- like Shelly was talking about.  My episodes are very transient.  


Thanks for all the support!  You guys are awesome!!
(((Hugs,)))
Tammy



Helpful - 0
738075 tn?1330575844
Tammy, I'm so glad you brought this up!  Last December and January I had similar episodes of what I'll call "bad auditory processing".  When people talked to me, it sounded like a bad cell phone call - all garbled and mixed up.  It also sometimes sounded like listening to single side-band (for those of you in the HAM radio world).  I told my neuro about this, and he said it's probably a flare, and to keep him posted.  It was bothersome, but I didn't want to do the steroid route, and eventually it went away (like so many other minor flares I've had over the past 25+ years).

You're not alone!

I'm also curious about your EEG results.  Thinking of you!
Hugs,
Lisa
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
I'll let you guys know what happened when I get home tomorrow.  (Hopefully they will tell me, and not make me wait till my next appt.)

Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Good luck with the testing :)  and I look forward to hearing about how you make out because it's something I dealt with for quite awhile too.
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Clonus activity is usually associated with seizures.  Perhaps the causes are similar.  When I have clonus, my legs will jerk until all the muscles are contracted in the leg, and it stays that way for a second or two.  It's almost as if it has to get all that out so the leg can move normally - rather like shaking off the dust.  I can't do anything to prevent it from happening.  I try to relax the legs and move them very slowly, but it doesn't help.

I used to get clonus of the torso, which looked rather like a seizure.  The back would contract just like my legs do, and then it would relax again.

Aphasia is really scary too.  I've had the normal MS kind, where you can't talk because none of the words you want are in your head.  I've also had the total lack of comprehension when somebody's speaking to me, but I'm not sure if this is just a total failure to pay attention, or if it's me zoning out.  Perhaps both.

At any rate, it's frightening ,but not life-threatening.  Let us know how the EEG goes!
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
Thanks JJ,

I will let you know what happens.  

Hugs to you!
Helpful - 0
987762 tn?1671273328
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hey babe,

What you describe does sound like it could 'possibly' be a seizure type of event, so its a good idea to get that investigated, hopefully you'll know one way or the other after the EEG. Please let us know what happens!!

HUGS..........JJ  
Helpful - 0
3986919 tn?1352125983
I wish you all the best...Wow, that does sound scary! I think you did a good job of explaining what happens to you...please let me/us know what the test results reveal!
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
The intermittent muscle twitching we usually feel are called fasciculations.  Like most mser's I get those too.

What happened during the strange episodes was entirely different. It was hard and unpleasant.  It affected my jaw, and most of my body.  It wasn't as bad as what they show on tv, when people are having seizures- so that's why I didn't know what it was.  It basically felt like electrical surges-causing muscle contractions all over my body.  I don't know how to describe it any better.  I'm sure someone else on the forum has experienced this...  Hopefully they will see this, and have a better way to describe/explain.  At the time, although I was aware- my consciousness was altered somewhat.  I just hope my doctor can get it under control.  The whole process is very disconcerting...

This is the best I can manage for an explanation.  I hope it helps.

As for whether it can be caused by my ms?  I have read that while seizures are more common in people with ms, than in the general population- it's still pretty uncommon. ( only 3% - 5 or 6% is the estimate in people with ms).  It may mean epilepsy and ms, or they may decide it's from my ms...  (Or they may decide it wasn't a seizure at all.  We'll see next week.)

Helpful - 0
3986919 tn?1352125983
What exactly do you mean by twitching? I know I wasn't twitching, but I want to make sure I understand what you are talking about. (Lately I have been getting a lot of painless muscle twitching mostly in my legs and torso, but not on my face.

I read you are going for a EEG....if it is seizures, does the dr think they could they be caused by your MS?

I hope all goes well and they will figure out what is going on ....and fix it :)
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
It sounds like you may need to look into this too.  One of the things he asked me was "we're you twitcthing at all?"  And I had been twitching, I didn't think it was important.  So that is another thing to watch for.
Helpful - 0
3986919 tn?1352125983
I have noticed something similar to this in the last couple of weeks...the time it happened the longested was when the nurse from Shared Solutions came over to show me how to inject my Copaxone last week.

She was here about 2 hours...I already wasn't feeling great... Of course she was giving me a lot of information, my daughter-in-law was here asking questions also...I was getting very tired, but tried to act normal. :)

At one point she started talking to me for quite some time...I can picture her face in my mind now....she was explaining something to me....I heard her, but I did not comprehend a single thing she said. Not one word. I remember thinking to myself.......oh no, what is she saying? I just stared at her....then, all of a sudden, I was able to understand her again.....It seemed to last for ever, but it was probably less than 30 seconds...

This has happened twice ....both times only lasting seconds NOT minutes! Both times someone was talking to me...It was like I zoned out mentally....I guess it kind of "scared" me because I remember both incidents VERY clearly. (but not what they said lol)

Laurie
Helpful - 0
620048 tn?1358018235
I was just reading these posts again, what a mess we are and it so difficult to figure it all out.  These episodes are with me all the time, nothing "spotty" here.

Since I only see my MS specialist once a year it makes it hard to remember all of this so I can tell her whats going on.  And, yes, I keep notes...several in a years time and it all changes so much in that time.

Thanks, its a great topic for me..
meg
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
Thank you.  That's very kind.

Tammy
Helpful - 0
751951 tn?1406632863
Well, we will certainly pray that the source of this scary experience is discovered and eliminated, whatever it might be.
Helpful - 0
2015036 tn?1332997788
My neurologist thinks I'm having seizures, and that's what is causing these odd episodes.  I have an EEG scheduled for next week.
Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
If it's what I had, it's definitely not phychological - all attack related. And, it can improve, I wish this for you :) Mine was not spotty - it was steady. Hopefully you are indeed not reading this right now, and minimizing stimuli ! (((((Hugs))))) shell
Helpful - 0
751951 tn?1406632863
Oh, JJ, that sounds sooooooo familiar.  Takes me back decades to when it was thought I might have hearing loss (didn't then; do now).  That ENT doc explained it as an inability to screen sounds, focus on the ones that matter, and disregard those that weren't important.  It was -- and still is -- maddening.  Early 1980s, IIRC (underscore that first I!).
Helpful - 0
2
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community

Top Neurology Answerers
987762 tn?1671273328
Australia
5265383 tn?1669040108
ON
1756321 tn?1547095325
Queensland, Australia
1780921 tn?1499301793
Queen Creek, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease