4. Difficulty Speaking and Swallowing: The Silent Struggles in PSP
Another symptom that progressively develops in PSP is dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, and dysarthria, or difficulty speaking. The muscles in the throat and mouth that help us speak and swallow become progressively weaker in PSP patients, leading to these difficulties.
Dysarthria first manifests as mild slurring of speech or speaking softly. Over time, the patient’s speech may become slow, with a tendency to hesitate before speaking.
The voice may take on a monotone quality, lacking the usual inflections that indicate emotions. Communication becomes an uphill task for these individuals, often leading to social isolation.
Similarly, dysphagia in PSP can lead to several complications. It starts with difficulty swallowing certain types of food and can progress to a point where swallowing liquids becomes difficult too.
This can lead to malnutrition and dehydration, both of which can have significant impacts on the patient’s overall health. In severe cases, dysphagia can cause food or liquid to enter the lungs, leading to pneumonia.(4)
