Symptom: Slurred speech

Slurred speech: Slurring speech or difficulty articulating words
Introduction: Slurred speech is a particular speech symptom that is commonly associated with drunkenness, though there are many other causes. Slurred speech is not the same as poorly articulated speech or overly rapid speech, and other types of speech symptoms should also be examined as possible diagnoses of a slurred-like speech symptom. Some of the possible causes of slurred speech include alcohol, drug intoxication, hypoglycemic attacks, various serious brain conditions (e.g. stroke or TIA), and also possible are various speech disorders including physical disorders of the face or oral region that interfere with speech. It is incorrect to assume a person with slurred speech is "just drunk". Slurred speech needs immediate professional medical advice because of the possibility of life-threatening causes.

Detailed cause information for symptom: Slurred speech:

Possible causes of symptom: Slurred speech (38 conditions)

Medical conditions causing symptom: Slurred speech (22 conditions)

Medical articles on symptoms: These general medical articles may be of interest:

Symptoms of the Silent Killer Diseases
Symptoms and Medical Malpractice
Medical mistakes and their rates, causes and prevention
Deaths and sudden death

Symptoms related to Slurred speech: speech symptoms (79), speech impairment (0), inability to speak (7), stuttering (0)
Slurred speech type of: Speech symptoms (79)
Symptoms: symptom center, symptom groups, symptom descriptions

Possible causes of symptom: Slurred speech: The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Slurred speech as a symptom. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

Drunkenness (see Alcohol use)
Alcohol intoxication (see Alcohol use)
Drug intoxication
Amphetamine intoxication - amphetamines can lead to poorly articulated speech
Hypoglycemic attack - the effects of very low blood sugars lead to drunken-like slurred and/or rambling speech.
Hypoglycemia
Facial paralysis - may lead to speech difficulty that sounds slurred.
Brain conditions
Other symptoms or medical conditions that might be mistaken for or imprecisely called "slurred speech" include:
- Stuttering
- Lisp
- Speech disorders
- Phonological disorders (type of Communication disorders)
- Rapid speech - such as might occur with mania
- Inarticulate speech - such as might occur with drugs such as amphetamines
- Nasal speech
- See also other speech problems
Neurological disorders (see Cognitive impairment)
Nose disorders that might lead to slurred-like speech or other speech changes include:
- Deviated septum
- Nasal injury
See also other causes of speech problems or nasal speech

Conditions listing symptoms: Slurred speech: The following list of conditions have 'Slurred speech' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.