Emotional distress and loss of speech

Hi, my mom is 55 years old and has been through a lot in life. She recently got into a major altercation with some family folks and because of the mental and emotional distress she has lost her speech ability. She can speak but with a heavy tongue and she says that she cannot feel her tongue.

Can anyone tell me if this phenomenon is temporary or permanent. Also what can I do to reverse this condition?

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
    How are you? 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. Stroke can occur due to a number of causes like diabetes, atherosclerosis, hypertension. Emotional factors can play a role in hypertension and diabetes. Bell’s palsy occurrence is not related to anything in particular. It is idiopathic in occurrence.

I would suggest that you visit a neurologist for confirmation of diagnosis with physical examination and investigations.
Best.

[hrishib]

Hi, thank you for your help. I'm getting the checkups done in the next few days. Is this something that is reversible or will she lose speech forever? :(