Signs & Symptoms of Neurological Deficit

Injuries and illnesses that affect the brain and central nervous system cause significant functional deficits. The signs --- things that can be observed --- and symptoms --- things reported by the patient --- vary based on the location of the injury or illness. There are several common deficits associated with neurological disorders.

Language Deficits

• One of the first signs of a neurological disorder is a change in a person's ability to communicate. Strokes or other brain damage that occurs on the left side of the brain will cause language deficits. This includes difficulty with "word finding" --- sentences that are incomplete because a particular word cannot be remembered. Speech is often slurred and the person might appear to be confused or unable to understand what another person is saying. Severe neurological disorders can cause a complete loss of communication skills.

Motor Deficits

• Neurological disorders cause significant motor deficits --- they affect the way a person is able to move. Injuries to the left side of the brain cause motor problems on the right side of the body and vice versa. These problems include weakness or complete loss of movement in part of the body. Motor deficits often affect a person's ability to walk and perform basic daily activities like hygiene and grooming. These deficits can be temporary, allowing them to improve with strengthening and physical therapy, or permanent, requiring the use of braces and assistive devices like walkers and wheelchairs.

Sensory Deficits

• Neurological disorders affect the sensory system --- the part of the nervous system that detects touch, pressure, temperature changes and pain. Numbness or lack of sensation predisposes a person to injury. If the bottom of the foot is numb, an injury can occur without the person's knowledge. If part of the hand is numb, an injury can occur when reaching into a purse when vision is occluded. Tingling sensations also occur with neurological disorders. This can cause hypersensitivity, making normal daily activities intolerable. These deficits can be temporary or permanent depending on the cause. Sensory deficits require a person to use other senses like vision to prevent injury to the affected area.

Physical Signs

• There are several physical signs associated with neurological deficits. Walking patterns are frequently affected --- the person might limp, lean excessively or require an assistive device for mobility. Oral skills like eating can be affected. The sound of the person's speech may be abnormal. With severe neurological disorders, a person might even demonstrate altered states of consciousness, demonstrated by eyes rolling back in the head, drooling, convulsions and lack of responsiveness.