Basal Ganglia Stroke
Arteries carry blood that contains oxygen to the brain. The flow of blood through the arteries can stop if they are blocked or they bleed. This is a stroke. It is also known as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA. The effects of stroke vary depending upon which parts of the brain have been damaged.
The basal ganglia are “messengers” in the middle of the brain. They sort out information for the spinal cord and cerebellum. Many arteries work with the basal ganglia. This means the basal ganglia can be injured in many places with a stroke. It can affect:
• Body movement
• Body sensation
• Vision
• Judgment
• Motivation
• Personality
• Speech
Bleeding in the arteries will put pressure on the rest of the brain. This can damage areas outside of the basal ganglia.
Changes in body movement
There may be a range of changes in body movement depending on the damage to the basal ganglia. The patient may have:
Loss of movement, such as stiff, rigid or weak muscles
Tremors or body shakes
Left-side neglect which occurs when the stroke affects the right side of the brain. The patient may not move the eyes or the head to the left without being prompted. The patient may only eat food on the right side of the plate. He or she may ignore anything on the left side, including someone standing or speaking.
Changes in the ability to swallow (dysphagia) if the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and throat are affected. Food may be held on one side of the mouth. This is called pocketing.
Changes in facial muscles, for example not having an even and symmetrical smile.
When the body is unable to coordinate how the muscles move together, this is called as ataxia.
For example, you may fall because you are not able to put your foot where you want to walk.
Ataxia can affect arms, legs and chest muscles. It can lead to uncontrolled body shakes called “tremors”. Tremors often occur when the body starts or stops moving.
Changes in body sensation
After a stroke, it can be hard for the patient to feel touch or know where he or she is being touched. These changes may occur in the face on the same side of the stroke and in the body on the opposite side. The person may not feel pain and temperature in that area. They may also find it hard to know where the body is and how it is moving.
Changes in eye movement
The stroke may affect how the eyes move. The person may have trouble looking up or one eye may look to the side. The muscles that control the size of the pupil stop working. One pupil may be larger or smaller than the other. The patient may also be missing parts of his or her visual field – for example hemianopia.
Changes in judgment
Changes in judgment are common. The person may be confused and struggle to understand what is going on around them leading to feelings of frustration or anxiety.
Changes in motivation
The patient may become unmotivated and lack interest in activities, this is sometimes called apathy or abulia.
Changes in personality
The stroke may affect personality. Sometimes they will have a strong emotional response to things that didn’t affect him or her before.
The patient may laugh or cry at times when it is not appropriate, this called emotional lability.
Depression is common after stroke.
Changes in speech
Problems with speech and understanding language called aphasia or dysphasia are common with this type of stroke.
Specialist Speech Therapy is a speech and language therapy practice which specialises in the assessment and treatment of speech, language and swallowing difficulties as a result of basal ganglia stroke. Contact us today for a free, no obligation discussion of your needs or to arrange an appointment in Birmingham, Solihull and the West Midlands.
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Arteries carry blood that contains oxygen to the brain. The flow of blood through the arteries can stop if they are blocked or they bleed. This is a stroke. It is also known as a cerebrovascular accident or CVA. The effects of stroke vary depending upon which parts of the brain have been damaged.
The basal ganglia are “messengers” in the middle of the brain. They sort out information for the spinal cord and cerebellum. Many arteries work with the basal ganglia. This means the basal ganglia can be injured in many places with a stroke. It can affect:
• Body movement
• Body sensation
• Vision
• Judgment
• Motivation
• Personality
• Speech
Bleeding in the arteries will put pressure on the rest of the brain. This can damage areas outside of the basal ganglia.
Changes in body movement
There may be a range of changes in body movement depending on the damage to the basal ganglia. The patient may have:
Loss of movement, such as stiff, rigid or weak muscles
Tremors or body shakes
Left-side neglect which occurs when the stroke affects the right side of the brain. The patient may not move the eyes or the head to the left without being prompted. The patient may only eat food on the right side of the plate. He or she may ignore anything on the left side, including someone standing or speaking.
Changes in the ability to swallow (dysphagia) if the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and throat are affected. Food may be held on one side of the mouth. This is called pocketing.
Changes in facial muscles, for example not having an even and symmetrical smile.
When the body is unable to coordinate how the muscles move together, this is called as ataxia.
For example, you may fall because you are not able to put your foot where you want to walk.
Ataxia can affect arms, legs and chest muscles. It can lead to uncontrolled body shakes called “tremors”. Tremors often occur when the body starts or stops moving.
Changes in body sensation
After a stroke, it can be hard for the patient to feel touch or know where he or she is being touched. These changes may occur in the face on the same side of the stroke and in the body on the opposite side. The person may not feel pain and temperature in that area. They may also find it hard to know where the body is and how it is moving.
Changes in eye movement
The stroke may affect how the eyes move. The person may have trouble looking up or one eye may look to the side. The muscles that control the size of the pupil stop working. One pupil may be larger or smaller than the other. The patient may also be missing parts of his or her visual field – for example hemianopia.
Changes in judgment
Changes in judgment are common. The person may be confused and struggle to understand what is going on around them leading to feelings of frustration or anxiety.
Changes in motivation
The patient may become unmotivated and lack interest in activities, this is sometimes called apathy or abulia.
Changes in personality
The stroke may affect personality. Sometimes they will have a strong emotional response to things that didn’t affect him or her before.
The patient may laugh or cry at times when it is not appropriate, this called emotional lability.
Depression is common after stroke.
Changes in speech
Problems with speech and understanding language called aphasia or dysphasia are common with this type of stroke.
Specialist Speech Therapy is a speech and language therapy practice which specialises in the assessment and treatment of speech, language and swallowing difficulties as a result of basal ganglia stroke. Contact us today for a free, no obligation discussion of your needs or to arrange an appointment in Birmingham, Solihull and the West Midlands.
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