Pseudobulbar palsy is bilateral impairment of the function of the lower cranial nerves 9, 10, 11 and 12 which control the muscles of eating, swallowing and talking. It is the result of an upper motor neuron lesion to the corticobulbar pathways in the pyramidal tract.

Causes

• Vascular causes: Bilateral hemisphere infarction
• Degenerative disorders: motor neuron disease
• Inflammatory disorders: Multiple sclerosis
• Malignancy: High brain stem tumors
• Brain trauma

Symptoms

These include:

• Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
• Labile affect^[1]
• Dysarthria

Signs

These include:

• Speech is slow, thick and indistinct
• Gag reflex is normal, exaggerated or absent
• Tongue is small, stiff and spastic
• Jaw jerk is brisk
• There may be upper motor neuron lesion of the limbs.

Bulbar palsy is a similar disorder but is caused by lower motor neuron lesions

See also

• Corticobulbar tract
• Bulbar palsy

References

External links

• - "pseudobulbar palsy"
• - "comparison of bulbar and pseudobulbar palsy"
• eNotes

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