I had the same experience. In august 2010 I noticed some slight slurring. I would slur only when I was really tired. Also, I was taking a diet pill at the time and the slurring also seemed to coincide with when I took the pills. I stopped taking the diet pills in June and the slurring completely stopped. However, it started up again in August and just got progressively worse. I went to Emory and they said that I definitely have ALS (bulbar palsy). They have no idea what causes it but dismissed the idea of the diet pills. I'd love to exchange ideas. I too am a teacher and plan to continue to work with the help of technology. Liz