Facial nerve palsy is paralysis of the face caused by damage to the seventh cranial nerve. It can cause changes in facial expression, impaired taste, hearing and vision, and other symptoms. It can be caused by trauma, tumors, infectious diseases, and congenital conditions. Treatment focuses on compensating for the problems caused by the paralysis.
Facial nerve palsy is paralysis of areas of the face innervated by the facial nerve, which may also be referred to as the seventh cranial nerve. This particular nerve winds its way through the face and many different areas of the face can be involved. In addition to being associated with facial paralysis, facial nerve palsy can also lead to problems with taste, hearing and vision. There are a number of potential causes for this condition.
Symptoms of facial nerve palsy vary depending on which areas of the nerve are involved. Changes in facial expression are common, with the person having difficulty smiling and making other expressions on the affected side of the face. The sense of taste may be impaired and the patient may have decreased saliva production. Sensitivity to noise is another sign, as is dryness in one eye.
It is important to distinguish between paralysis and paresis. Facial nerve palsy requires damage to the nerve so complete that movement is not possible. Facial nerve paresis involves damage that weakens the face, but does not paralyze it. Patients may also experience symptoms such as uncontrollable twitching and other tics in the face due to damage to the facial nerve. Bell’s palsy is probably the best known (and most common) form of facial nerve palsy.
Some causes of facial nerve palsy include trauma to the seventh cranial nerve, which can occur as a result of surgery, a blow, or an accident, along with tumors affecting the nerve, some infectious diseases, and congenital conditions. If the paralysis is congenital, it will be diagnosed soon after birth when the baby is evaluated by a pediatrician.
A doctor may perform a variety of tests to evaluate a patient for facial nerve palsy. These tests may include taste and hearing tests, saliva production tests, and electrical tests on the nerves in the face to see if they can conduct electrical signals. Tests may also include balance tests and other tests to evaluate neurological function.
Facial nerve palsy can be accompanied by serious complications. Corneal ulceration can occur due to decreased tear production, for example, and patients may have difficulty swallowing or experience a decline in quality of life due to impaired taste. Treatment for this condition focuses on compensating for the problems caused by the paralysis, such as using artificial tears to keep the eye lubricated. If the cause is treatable, as might be the case with a tumor, it will also be addressed, hopefully resolving the paralysis.
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