Flaccid dysarthria results from damage to the lower motor neurons (LMN) or the peripheral nervous system (Hageman, 1997). The characteristics of flaccid dysarthria generally reflect damage to cranial nerves with motor speech functions (e.g., cranial nerves IX, X, XI and XII) (Seikel, King & Drumright, 2010). Lower motor neurons connect the central nervous system to the muscle fibers; from the brainstem to the cranial nerves with motor function, or from the anterior horns of grey matter to the spinal
Flaccid Dysarthria falls within one of two major categories of motor speech disorders. Motor speech disorders are classified as either dysarthria’s or apraxia’s. Flaccid Dysarthria, which has to do with damage to the lower motor neurons, is only one of six categorized dysarthria’s, the others being as follows: Spastic Dysarthria, Ataxic Dysarthria, Hyperkinetic Dysarthria, Hypokinetic Dysarthria, and Mixed Dysarthria. Features of each of these dysarthria’s are distinctive due to the site of damage
• Name parts of the Body • Simple command “take the toy from my hand and put it on the table” • Repeat simple sentence (with a verb and a noun) • Reading – “can you reads your name” • Writing – “Write down your name” • Copy a simple design MOTOR EXAMINATION OF THE UPPER LIMB • Inspection o Posture - Note the resting posture. Look for abnormal flexion, unusual rotation or clawing of the hand. Always compare with the other side for symmetry. In a child with hemiplegia, the upper limb is flexed
as a disorder that is "on the margins" of the category of speech disorders. The argumentation will be that since dysarthria shares common underlying neurological causes with motor diseases rather than with other language impairments, it is set apart from other language impairments and evidence for the overlap of the motor modality with the language modality. Language is arguably one if not the most complex functions produced by the human brain, and one that is all but transparent as to the underlying
own unique pathology. In ALS, nerve cells degenerate and deteriorate, and are unable to transmit messages to muscles. In around 90% of the cases of ALS, the cause remains unknown. Studies have concentrated on the responsibility of glutamate in motor neuron degeneration. Glutamate is one of several neurotransmitters in the brain. While there is no known cure for ALS, strides in medicine have allowed for the development of a wide variety of medications to treat the various symptoms of ALS, as well
neuritis, horizontal myelitis or any other lesions limited to one anatomic localization at one point in time. It represents first incident of multiple sclerosis. It shares similar symptoms and covers a broad spectrum of other neurologic disorders. More than half of the cases have abnormal MRI, with other subclinical lesions in other parts of central nervous system. Time factor differentiates this disease from multiple sclerosis. Presence of another lesion after MRI done a month later will imply multiple
The plan for any movement originates in the brain. The major part of the brain involved in the initiation and control of voluntary movement is the primary motor cortex. Motor neurons in the brain are called upper motor neurons (UMNs), whereas motor neurons in the brain stem and spinal cord are called lower motor neurons (LMNs). UMNs are unable to leave the CNS; therefore they must synapse with LMNs whose axons can leave the CNS, which allows them to synapse with muscles throughout the body. Thus
Neuropsychologist A neuropsychologist is a professional in the field of psychology that focuses on the interrelationships between neurological processes and behavior. They work as a team with neurologists, neurosurgeons, and primary care physicians. Neuropsychologists extensively study the anatomy, pathology, and physiology of the nervous system (http://www.tbidoc.com/Appel2.html). Clinical neuropsychologists then apply this knowledge to the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or rehabilitation
movement in all limbs. Both the motor and sensory neurons are affected by this causing a loss of both sensation and control in lower extremities, upper extremities and almost the entire torso. This results in becoming paralyzed. Paralysis extent depends upon severity and location of injury to the spine. The higher the region, often the more severe. Injuries close to the neck can result in complete paralysis whereas injuries lower down the spinal cord can lead to only the lower body being paralyzed. Quadriplegia
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a disorder that is characterized by failure to exhibit muscle paralysis or atonia during REM sleep. Along with lack of muscle atonia, patients with RBD display behaviors of “acting out” their dreams, which can be harmful to themselves or others around them (Gagnon, Postuma, Mazza & Montplaisir, 2006, p. 425). It has been reported that the dreams are usually very vivid nightmares or close to them and are usually violent, which are expressed
exanimation and testing. Symptoms of CPM have been seen 3-10 days after treatment of hyponatremia when patients reach normatremia. Restlessness and confusion are key symptoms in individuals who have recently undergone rapid treatment of hyponatremia. Lesions associated with CPM are believed to start developing when normatremia is reached too quickly. Once patients reach normatremia, as discussed above, new symptoms develop and cause the need for a neurological examination to be performed. Upon completion
location The above image (The Orbitofrontal cortex, 2014) shows the location of the orbitofrontal cortex a. medially and b. ventrally. The medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus is situated in areas 4 and 6, that is, located in the front of the motor and premotor cortices of the frontal lobe. The medial part of this nucleus (magnocellular part) projects to the ventral medial orbital portion of the prefrontal lobe (Kringelbach, 2005). This particular portion of the prefrontal cortex is called the
sensations. Destruction of neurons in the posterior spinal cord results in loss of these sensations below the level of involvement. Posterior cord syndrome is when the damage is towards the back of the spinal cord. This type
Introduction Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized mainly by physical and psychological disabilities. This disorder was named after James Parkinson, an English physician who first described it as shaking palsy in 1817 (Goetz, Factr, and Weiner, 2002). Jean- Martin Charcot, who was a French neurologist, then progressed and further refined the description of the disease and identified other clinical features of PD (Goetz, Factr, and Weiner, 2002). PD involves
Aside from the motor and sensory impairments as well as independent breathing difficulty (if higher level injury), numerous complications can arise after an individual sustains a SCI. Initially after injury, spinal shock occurs resulting in a phase of areflexia, a disruption of the autonomic nervous system causing irregularities in blood pressure and temperature control, and flaccidity. The initial phase may last approximately 24 to 48 hours with a gradual return of reflexes over time. Ultimate
hemisphere controls movement of the right side of the body and the left hemisphere controls movement on the right side of the body. Therefore, damage in the motor area on either side of the brain affects the opposite side of the brain. Also, depending on the severity, an effect on the left cerebral hemisphere may result in functional loss or motor skill impairment of the right side of the body, and may also cause loss of speech. However, it is not too surprising that this highest function would localize
Epilepsy Epilepsy is a very common neurological disorder. Some reports estimate that five in one-thousand people suffer from this problem. Throughout history, people with epilepsy have been shunned or considered inferior. Even today, ignorance leads many people to treat the epileptic as "abnormal" or "retarded". Although the etiology of epilepsy is still not fully understood, it is quite treatable due to advances in modern medicine. Epilepsy is characterized by uncontrolled excessive activity
The Effects of Smoking on the Developing Fetus The exposure of the fetus to nicotine during development has several effects. The most well known result of smoking is low birth weight of the infant. There are also some studies that reveal nicotine as a drug that can affect the brain of the developing fetus. Nicotine also has direct effects on the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS and may cause a decrease in cell growth which could result in mental impairment. The correlation between maternal
movements (bradykinesia), and postural instability. It is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by decreased production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Dopamine is responsible for most of the body’s smooth muscle movements. As a result, motor control in Parkinson’s patients is disrupted, causing anything from uncontrollable tremors to muscular stiffness to slow-as-molasses movements. (2) PD affects about 500,000 people in the United States, both men and women, with as many as 50,000 new
is defined as an umbrella term for a group of non-progressive syndromes characterized by motor impairment and various muscle movement patterns that arise from a brain injury or malformation during a child’s early developmental stages (Sankar & Mundkur, 2005). If a child is suspected to have CP, a careful identification process and the use of several evaluation measures are crucial due to the wide range of motor impairments, muscle movement patterns, and levels of severity that exist for individuals