Neurogenic Mutism

Question 1

What is neurogenic mutism?

Answer 1

• speechlessness

- can be neurologic or behavioural ! (our job to figure that out)

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

• can be a sign of many acquired conditions
• all levels implicated
• can result from severe dysarthria (Exc. flaccid)
• TBI - often folllowed by a period of whispered speech

Question 3

Anarthria

Answer 3

• speechlessness due to severe loss of neuromuscular control over speech
• most severe form of dysarthria
• lang & cog intact, neuromotor system does not permit speech
• do not speak because they can’t speak

Question 4

Locked in syndrome

Answer 4

• special & dramatic occurrence of anarthria
• total body immobility except for vert eye movement & blinking
• preserved cog
• mute & quadriplegic

Question 5

Cerebellar mutism

Answer 5

• children after surgery
• nearly always transient
• does not show up until 1-7 days post surgery
• cognitively alert
• can resolve to ataxic dys
• difficulty initiating oral movements

Question 6

Akinetic mutism

Answer 6

• extreme abulic state
• caused by tumours, TBI, anoxia, encephalitis, etc
• ACA PCA SMA ant cing gyrus
• total absence of spont behaviour & speech

Question 7

Abulia

Answer 7

• lack of initiative in thought, speech, physical action, and affective emotion
• decreased speech output
• can be drug induced
• can be misinterpreted as depression or noncompliance