Speech impairment with PCS
 

My girlfriend does not speak with her normal tone of voice and it's difficult to hear her. It's been 19 days since the concussion. What were your experience with this and did it slowly return to your pre-concussed voice?

Has she had a complete neurological work-up, including MMSE and speech assessment ?

It would be worthwhile.

I had aphasia and word finding difficulties noted about four weeks after my injury, these did clear over time. Is she seeing a physiatrist or other doctor for her injury? I would ask about a referral to a speech-language pathologist.

Lightrail, how did you get better after only 6 months? Seems like you're accident was quite traumatic.

Hi, thanks and good question. All I can tell you is what my recovery plan was; the rest I credit to prayers and the grace of a Power greater then myself.

After a month in the ICU (of which I have little to no memory) I was transferred to the neuro-rehab unit at Barrow’s Neurological Center in Phoenix. I had daily therapies (usually twice daily) of occupational, speech and physical therapies as prescribed by the physiatrist in consultation with the clinical neuropsychologist.

In addition, I had family and friends bring in newspapers and magazines. Even though my retention and reading comprehension was poor at the time I kept after it and started to retain a bit more each time. My wife brought a netbook computer to the hospital, and checking my email helped me connect with others outside the hospital. I do believe all that helped with the memory and cognitive deficits.

After four weeks of in-patient rehab I went home, and continued with some out-patient therapies, continued reading (adding books), and my wife worked with me using math flash cards.

So it was a combination of therapy, time, effort, and as I mentioned, prayer. I’m profoundly grateful to be able to say that the neuropsychological assessment about five months after the injury contained the words:

"On examination, the patient demonstrated intact cognition in all domains assessed including learning and memory, attention, processing speed, language skills and executive functions. He has shown an excellent recovery from his severe injury only five months ago. From a cognitive standpoint there are no concerns with respect to the patient returning to work full time or returning to driving"

Unfortunately insurance is still an issue, so she has not seen anyone after the two ER visits in the beginning. I am working on getting her on a plan through healthcare.gov because the other options are taking too long.

One other area to explore could be the Brain Injury Associaiton in your area.

http://www.biausa.org/state-affiliates.htm

I can relate
 

I had a closed head concussion.I could not talk or walk a year ago and half ago! I found the best thing for my speech problem was acupuncture. If it is painful for her to talk I suggest strongly Google Community Acupuncture in your area $15-$30. The price depends on what you can pay! It might take her a few times before she starts feeling the results and it is a process. If she has chronic pain address as well :grouphug:Mia

I sustained a concussion in an auto accident over three years ago I still have issues with tone and volume of my voice, voice and other speech related issues.

I also had trouble talking and walking for far too long after the concussion I sustained.

Some real speech therapy was ordered for me over a year after the accident I was in. (The first time I went the speech therapist treated me like a 5 year old who had a stroke, she didn't understand anything about head injuries. Also, I had a weird accent and she refused to believe that English was my first and only language - she kept saying that other people often forget their primary language after a stroke. My boyfriend almost got into an argument with her... she was an idiot.)

I sounded like I had a strange foreign accent for almost a year after the accident and it can pop in and out still... although no where near as bad as it once was.

I stuttered and slurred.

But the speech symptoms I have had are much better than they were and they seem to continue to improve over time (and with treatment - the concussion I suffered caused my pituitary gland to malfunction and they are still adjusting my hormones that I need which has been helping quite a bit.) But all the symptoms I have, including the speech ones, tend to get worse when I'm tired and I don't have the strength or stamina that I used to.