Speech concerns

[TimMc]

Ok guys, I’ve been having problem with tongue etc.

All started about 3-4 weeks ago where the tip of my tongue felt weird almost tingly but only when I pressed my tongue into the top of my teeth which became a habit.
Then started focusing on my speech and now my tongue just feels heavy and weird when talking, I’ll catch my self not saying something properly and going back and saying it correctly.
Almost feels like a lisp on certain words or my tongue just doesn’t move the way it should on certain sounds.
Also have tight neck feeling and swallowing has become I feel a bit harder.
Have been to my GP doctor who said everything looks fine and could not hear any slurred speech.


I have always had bad health anxiety and been down the rabbit hole of *** a few times.

Also been a major twitcher for years especially calf’s but happens all over body and noticed it on tongue at rest.

My question is does anyone think this sounds concerning ?

 

[ShiftKicker]

Hi there-

Please make sure to read here: Read Before Posting

In it you will read why sensory issues point elsewhere. If you have concerns about your health, please visit with your health care provider first.

If you have known health anxiety, your best bet is to address that directly, as scratching that itch on disease forums will only provide temporary relief before you seek reassurance again.

Take care

 

[TimMc]

Thank you so much for your reply, really appreciate it.
The sensory issue was at the very beginning which has gone, but the speech issues have been around now for 3months.
I am currently on the waiting list to see a phycologist.

 

[lgelb]

If no one else can hear slurring, it's not important.

What you describe is common with dry mouth, allergies, and/or GERD. These are all worth exploring.

 

[TimMc]

No one has mentioned the slurring, it’s just on some words it’s almost like my tongue doesn’t move into position for the word and like it’s goes stiff. But if I go back and say the word again it’s comes out fine.
There are days I just physically don’t feel like talking cause my jaw under chin feels tight and tense and feel like I’m going to slur.

Does any of this seem concerning ?
My GP said he couldn’t hear it at all, but I felt like I spoke fine in the time I was seeing him.

 

[lgelb]

I would double down on hydration first, then explore allergies/GERD. I have never heard of bulbar-onset ALS presenting as you describe.

The pressing thing can definitely be down to dry mouth, which can in turn relate to hydration, dry/dirty air in your home (consider a humidifier, change filters, etc.) , poor sleep, and stress.

 

[TimMc]

I appreciate your comments a lot.
Thank you for being understanding and answering my questions I know inside my head what you say is logic and seems to be a mixture of things that is causing it.
And is quite reassuring that’s you have never heard of it starting how I describe.
I think it’s time I really work on my anxiety issues aswell.
Thanks Again.

 

[TimMc]

Update**
I have been to speech pathologist that has said she cannot hear any slurring or problems with speech, I was in appointment for 1 hour with her.
She did strength tests on tongue, lips and looked inside mouth a few times and said everything seems fine.
She did say I have a slight deviation of the tongue when I poke it out straight but said that’s probably been there for long time.
Would a speech pathologist be able to hear bulbar als ?

 

[rmt]

Speech changes from bulbar ALS are very noticeable. I noticed my husband's speech changes before he did. Everybody that he spoke with knew something was wrong. So yes, a speech pathologist would hear it.

 

[TimMc]

Ok thank you so much for your reply’s I really do appreciate it.
So the whole speech changes wouldn’t be a feeling that the speech is different but more it just would be different.
Now that a Gp, my family and a speech pathologist says they don’t hear slurring do you think I should not worry about ALS as a possibility ?
I still feel as my speech on some words feel different to say etc.

 

[TimMc]

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Nikki J]

Don’t worry

 

[lgelb]

Again, if no one else hears speech changes, they're not real. If you want proof, say the same sentence every week into your phone and record your voice.

So as before, our best advice will be to seek counseling to better deal with the anxiety, which is often unrelated to your health and just being projected onto it.

 

[TimMc]

Thank you for the comments.
Still going through it with speech and neck/u der chin tension, but trying to ignore it.
During the day I’ll have some conversations where I feel fine and some where I’m so focused on speech the tongue feels weird and says things wrong.
It’s been 4.5ml this now of this and it’s constantly on my mind with the fear ever day I wake up it’s on my mind.

 

[ShiftKicker]

Hi Tim,

Sorry you are still struggling. If medical professionals, particularly when one is a person who specializes in speech issues, can't detect a physical problem with function, then an ALS forum is not the place to visit. It is very clear you are very worried about ALS in particular, despite not reporting a pattern of symptoms that might give a trained medical professional concern for ALS. If you are unable to leave the anxiety about ALS behind despite this, it might be time to work with someone to find some tools to deal with your anxiety. This is not a dismissal of your experience, only that ALS is not in the picture.

If you have further questions, or a change to report about your symptoms, your doctor is the person to consult. This forum focuses on ALS only.

Please take care.