Pseudobulbar palsy is an incurable neurological disorder affecting speech, chewing, and swallowing. Patients may experience emotional dysregulation and require feeding tubes and mechanical ventilation. It can be caused by strokes, infections, and neurological diseases. Management includes physical therapy and alternative communication methods. Experimental studies may offer new treatments and support.
Pseudobulbar palsy is a neurological disorder associated with a lesion between motor neurons in the area of the brain responsible for regulating chewing, swallowing and speech. It is a form of upper motor neuron disease, a term that refers to the location of the lesion, and is not curable. There are some steps you can take to manage it, but patients usually die within three to four years of diagnosis, usually from a pneumonia infection. Supportive care can be provided to make the patient as comfortable as possible.
In patients with pseudobulbar palsy, speech becomes increasingly slurred and the patient has difficulty chewing and swallowing. Some patients also experience emotional dysregulation and may have mood swings and emotional outbursts. Over time, patients may need to be provided with nutrition through a feeding tube as they lose the ability to chew and swallow. Mechanical ventilation may also be needed.
This condition can be caused by a number of things. Strokes, infections and tumors can lead to lesions between the high motor neurons. Progressive neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have also been linked to pseudobulbar palsy. Medical imaging studies of the brain can reveal changes and provide insight into the extent of the damage.
Management of pseudobulbar palsy may include physical therapy to help patients maintain strength and control over their muscles for as long as possible, along with developing alternative communication methods so patients can communicate if their speech it becomes incomprehensible. Sign language and communication cards can be used, and patients can also work with devices intended to generate speech mechanically. For infections, medications to kill infectious organisms may be given, and patients may be given supportive care such as suctioning to keep the throat clear and reduce the risk of aspiration of fluids.
The treatment of neurological conditions such as pseudobulbar palsy is constantly being refined as doctors learn more about the brain and its processes. Patients diagnosed with this condition may wish to seek advice from a specialist to learn about the latest options for managing the disease. It may be possible to enroll in an experimental study and gain access to new treatments not yet available to the general public. Participating in studies can also provide patients with an opportunity to interact with other patients who have the disease, and people can get advice and supportive information for fellow study participants.
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