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What Causes Sudden Episodes Of Inability To Speak?
Question: I am having infrequent episodes where I will be talking to someone and all of a sudden my mind goes in a different direction and while I can think of what I want to say, it won't come out. I am aware of what is going on around me and know what I want to say but I cannot speak. After a short time, I can babble but what I am saying is broken sentences. After a minute or two, I am back to normal. On Warfarin 4mg a day and my bp is running routinely around 140/85. My MD took me off bp meds about 2 months ago. I am also taking 750 mg of LevETIRAcetam twice a day.
Brief Answer:
Most probably TIA.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and would try my best to help you.
I have noted your symptoms and they are most likely due to TIAs (transient ischemic attacks). In this condition, the blood supply gets reduced to a part of brain (in this case, the speech area, which is located in left frontal lobe in right-handed persons). The symptoms usually recover in a few minutes.
I noted that you are on warfarin. You need to check the PT/INR to see, if the dose needs adjustment.
I also considered a diagnosis of partial seizure causing speech arrest, however, that seems unlikely based on the description of your symptoms. In any case, you are covered with levetiracetam.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Most probably TIA.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and would try my best to help you.
I have noted your symptoms and they are most likely due to TIAs (transient ischemic attacks). In this condition, the blood supply gets reduced to a part of brain (in this case, the speech area, which is located in left frontal lobe in right-handed persons). The symptoms usually recover in a few minutes.
I noted that you are on warfarin. You need to check the PT/INR to see, if the dose needs adjustment.
I also considered a diagnosis of partial seizure causing speech arrest, however, that seems unlikely based on the description of your symptoms. In any case, you are covered with levetiracetam.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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