10 Symptoms and Signs of Concussion

8. Slurred Speech

Slurred speech (or dysarthria) is another common side effect of a concussion. It means that the blow to the head resulted in damage to the muscles or receptors in the brain that are responsible for articulation, including:

  • Motor cortex (controls voluntary muscle movement);
  • Cerebellum (controls coordination);
  • Basal ganglia (controls involuntary movements);
  • Brain stem (controls muscles used in breathing and making sounds).

The problem may be more or less apparent depending on the severity of the brain injury. Some people may be extremely hard to understand, while others will only slur particular sounds and letter combinations. [6]

While proper articulation will return over time, it is still recommended that you see a specialist if you experience this symptom following head trauma [3].

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