tongue movement

[kilamangiro]

Hi,
i was having a sort of tightness around my jaw yesterday, which seems to have subsided now, and, being the freak that i am, i began some internet research. Which led me to this video:

http://www.qub.ac.uk/cskills/video%20resource/Neuro%20video/neuro_exam_twelfth%20cranial%20nerve.htm

I'm worried because i can't move my tongue nearly as fast as this guy. Should i be able to? Can everyone else? Could that be the beginning of weakness?

Thanks for your help.

[mamaoftwo]

there must be some normal variation just as some people can run fast and others cannot. Maybe? I would think that they are looking for very slow movement or an inability to move it side to side at all. It is important that your tongue sticks out straight and elevates in the midline of the palate if you raise it. That shows that the muscles are equally strong left and right. If it pulls to one side, you may have weakness on that side.
Other than that, I don't know if I can help. All I can tell you is that my tongue isn't that fast either. Hell that looks like a party trick!