Speech Problems and Brain Block

[ElephantLover2023]

hi everyone, I had bacterial meningitis over New Years. My residual effects are ‘minor’ in terms of what there could have been (e.g. sciatica and nerve damage, back/neck pain, minor hearing loss and scaring from sepsis). However, I’ve noticed recently that I’m stuttering, I’m repeating words or mispronouncing them and it feels like I have a block sometimes when I’ve started to speak. When I notice it, I get quite nervous so I don’t know if that makes it worse. I’m just wondering if anyone has experienced the same thing and if that got help from doctors or if anything helps, please?

Doing some research, it looks like something brain related but the words brain damage seems a bit scary to describe it.

[Runnerma]

I am glad you survived this horrible illness. I had bacterial meningitis 12 yrs ago & came out relatively normal. I do have hearing loss & the “scrambled brain”. It gets worse when I am tired or stressed. I’ve had some alarming & funny things come out of my brain & mouth! Trying to keep calm & go a little slower does help. I hope that you find what works for you!

[agapelmh]

I too had difficulty recalling words and found myself stumbling in conversation. For me this improved as the infection and brain abscesses cleared up over the following several months. Your brain has an amazing capability of adapting and improving. So it may be short-term or longer-term, but take heart, just because things are like this now doesn't mean it will stay that way. Maybe look into speech therapy options. No matter what, give yourself grace. You have been through a lot and it happened not very long ago.