Shannon from Tucson, AZ

[shannoncabralstark]

I am starting to have major speech problems. I can't keep my damn jaw shut so I gave myself TMJ. I have a terrible lisp and my tongue will not cooperate. My jaw tremors and its really hard to keep my mouth closed. It looks really weird when I speak.

I AM A TRAVELING SALES PERSON!!!!!! Not anymore :-(

I really need my gift of gab.

Has anyone experienced this? Will it go away? Will it get worse? Soooooo scared and sooooo fustrated.

Any feedback would be awesome!!!

P.S. Seeing a speech therapist and TMJ person. Just want to know if it will go away or get worse.

[SNOOPY]

Hello shannoncabralstark and welcome to MSWorld.

You didn't say but I am going to assume you have MS Have you spoken to your Neurologist about your speech difficulties? Your neuro could refer you to a speech therapist to see if that would help.

Take care

[SNOOPY]

P.S. Seeing a speech therapist and TMJ person.

Sorry, I should have read your post better . I am glad to hear you are seeing a speech therapist. Hopefully that will help.

[shannoncabralstark]

shannon from tucson

Yes I do have MS. Diagnosed in 2001.

Speech therapist is helping with choking and speech but I was just curious if this is common and if someone has had this problem. I am hoping and praying it goes away like other relapse problems.

Thanks for the comment!

[Sequoia]

Hi shannon,

I've moved your thread to the General Questions & Answers forum, where it's likely to get more responses.

Thank you, Snoopy, for suggesting the move!

[mjan]

Sorry you are struggling hon.. HUGS!

But I am wondering if this may be a combination of events. Like spasticity, (stiff, sometimes locked muscles, hypertone) TN (trigeminal neuralgia) along with brain issues.

When I had choking problems I ended up finally get an EGD and that doc dilated my esophagus.. choking and swallowing trouble stopped. It comes back..and he performa a dilation again.. goes away.

I WAS having stuttering, slurring speech..but it came and went. Usually tells me I am having a flair.

Hope you get this corrected. Will you work again?

More hugs hon~ Jan

[rdmc]

Hey Shannon,

I have speech problems. The left side of my tongue doesn't work right, hasn't worked right for years. It's numbish, I have no taste on that side, and the muscles don't work right. If I stick my tongue out, it "bears to the left"

Consequently, my speech, especially the longer I talk gets more slurred and harder to understnad. I have pronunciation problems, especially with certain consonants or consonant blends. A "th" is almost impossible for me to say. Some words, if I speak really slowly, I can enunciate, but then it sounds weird because I'm over doing the enunciation.

There are certain phrases that a neurologist will have you say and repeat quickly that can pinpoint what kind of speech problems you're having: British Constitution; Baby Hippopotamus; and West Register Street. I really do okay with the first two, the last one becomes a slur that sounds like I've had one too many drinks.

So I do the best I can (I don't have TMJ problems, or the open mouth problem.) I will say that more often than not people will ask me to repeat myself, and I'm glad to do it. Sometimes it's worse than others.

I work from home, and speak to the folks at work all day, and most of the time don't have a problem making myself understood. If I'm having a bad pronunciation day, I'll let them know...and they're great.

I have found if you drink something cold, pronunciation gets even harder, not quite sure why that is. Anyway, the speech therapist will probably give you exercises and coping mechanisms. Because I can't do the "th" sound I substitute a "d" and when it's done quickly, nobody hardly notices.

Hang in there.

[shannoncabralstark]

thanks for the email. came and went. love that part!!!

[shannoncabralstark]

thanks!!! I am a newbie so I need all the help I can get!!

Hi shannon,

I've moved your thread to the General Questions & Answers forum, where it's likely to get more responses.

Thank you, Snoopy, for suggesting the move!

[shannoncabralstark]

thanks. really helpful.

Hey Shannon,

I have speech problems. The left side of my tongue doesn't work right, hasn't worked right for years. It's numbish, I have no taste on that side, and the muscles don't work right. If I stick my tongue out, it "bears to the left"

Consequently, my speech, especially the longer I talk gets more slurred and harder to understnad. I have pronunciation problems, especially with certain consonants or consonant blends. A "th" is almost impossible for me to say. Some words, if I speak really slowly, I can enunciate, but then it sounds weird because I'm over doing the enunciation.

There are certain phrases that a neurologist will have you say and repeat quickly that can pinpoint what kind of speech problems you're having: British Constitution; Baby Hippopotamus; and West Register Street. I really do okay with the first two, the last one becomes a slur that sounds like I've had one too many drinks.

So I do the best I can (I don't have TMJ problems, or the open mouth problem.) I will say that more often than not people will ask me to repeat myself, and I'm glad to do it. Sometimes it's worse than others.

I work from home, and speak to the folks at work all day, and most of the time don't have a problem making myself understood. If I'm having a bad pronunciation day, I'll let them know...and they're great.

I have found if you drink something cold, pronunciation gets even harder, not quite sure why that is. Anyway, the speech therapist will probably give you exercises and coping mechanisms. Because I can't do the "th" sound I substitute a "d" and when it's done quickly, nobody hardly notices.

Hang in there.