The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

I feel dumb

Sat, 09/15/2007 - 22:43
Seriously, I feel stupid. I used to be a very articulate person, now I can barely say the word aloud. There's alot of words like that, even when I'm typing things get messed up. Words that sound alike, that I never had a problem distinguishing one from another before, get switched around. But my speech is by far the worst. I am finding it easier not to talk than to try and get what I'm trying to say from my brain and out through my mouth in an understandable manner. Sometimes I go to speak and everything will literally come out backwards, or the words aren't in the correct spots in the sentence, where they should be. And quite frequently I come out with the wrong words altogether, ie. I want to say front and say french instead. The first letters are right, but it's a totally wrong word. People are begining to look at me like an idiot and I don't blame them, I FEEL like an idiot. It seems like after each seizure it gets alittle bit worse. I have nightmares of being a mute vegetable by the time I'm 30. Is this normal? Is it the medication? The seizures? My brain going dead or something? I can still learn without problems, I'm in college and the classes aren't a problem, as long as I don't have to talk. What area in the brain is our speech located anyways? Anyone else dealing with this? I've read through this three times, so I'm hoping there weren't too many mistakes that I've missed, if there are I'm sorry.

Comments

Re: I feel dumb

Submitted by txrhb1 on Sat, 2007-09-15 - 22:52
You are definitely not alone in this!! I say wrong words all the time. My kids are constantly called by the wrong name. My son Aaron is so used to being called Jessica or Sarah (my daughter and granddaughter), he'll answer to almost anything, including "Oh - you know who you are". Typing is another issue for me. I can spell great, but over the last couple of years, it's just gotten so bad. I'll spell "good" - "godd" or "sweet" - "swett" ... things like that. Seems like repeating letters really get me messed up. A couple of months ago, my son was picking on me big time, and I threated him with a "Texas ti**y twister", and it came out as a "texas twitty tister" instead. Now that's the big joke in the family. Here's a great link to areas of the brain, and what function each area controls. Speech is controlled by the Broca's area. http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/functional.html ((( hugs ))), Barbie *************************************** "We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can fly only by embracing each other." -lucian de crescenzo

Re: Re: I feel dumb

Submitted by Gina Marie on Sat, 2007-09-15 - 23:04
LOL Barbie you definately get what I'm saying:) Thank you for the link, it was very informative. I guess it makes sense too. I have TLE and from the EEG's they noticed most of my seizures come from my left temporal lobe. If the seizures are coming from there, and the medication is then working on cells there to help, then it's just a confusion where I need to be speaking. I guess the good thing is that now I have to listen before I speak!

Re: Re: Re: I feel dumb

Submitted by michaelH on Tue, 2007-09-18 - 12:10
Don't feel dumb. I know it's frustrating. Moreso before I was on Keppra-like when they were trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I would not be feeling well and say the wrong words, took me like 3 or 4 times to dial the right phone number because I kept hitting the wrong buttons, and had to hand over bedtime stories to my wife for a while because I felt like kid trying to learn how to read. Seems to be quite common really. Keep your chin up :)

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.