A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious injuries that someone can suffer after a car accident. The brain is involved in motor functions, hearing, vision, speech and essentially every action that humans take.
An often overlooked statistic is that between 10 and 60% of TBI survivors go on to develop speech difficulties. Why does this happen?
Head trauma can cause dysarthria
Dysarthria occurs when parts of the brain that are central to controlling the muscles involved in speech are damaged. This condition should not be confused with aphasia. Aphasia often impacts an individual’s ability to comprehend language, whereas dysarthria affects an individual’s ability to use speech muscles, but they tend to still comprehend language and know what they want to say.
Damaged areas of the brain that are commonly associated with dysarthria include:
- The cerebellum
- Motor cortex
- Basal ganglia
- Brain stem
The extent of slurred speech will largely depend on the severity of damage to the brain. In many cases, the individual’s speech can be improved after several months of rehabilitative speech therapy.
The road to recovery after a TBI can be a long one. In many cases, a full recovery isn’t possible. Victims will need extensive medical and rehabilitative treatment as well as the support of family and friends. As communication is vital in most workplaces, a brain injury of this type can mean that it is no longer possible to earn a regular income.
If your brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to hold them to account. Personal injury compensation can cover your medical costs, pain and suffering and lost wages. Gathering as much legal information as possible will help you to build a strong case.
