| Language is an area which multiple sclerosis can subtly affect.
Unseen and often initially unnoticed, this particular aspect can be
quite insidious and distressing in how it affects everyday interactions
with other people, often making effective communication difficult.
Language difficulties arising from multiple sclerosis can be subtle
or they can be overt.
'Finding the right words' is a phrase used often, but for
people with multiple sclerosis, this cliché is more than a saying, it
can be a fact of everyday life.
Language problems can be mild and intermittent, with the sufferer
experiencing some minor difficulty with word recall; where the correct
word is 'in there somewhere' or 'on the tip of the tongue',
but still proves elusive nonetheless.
Substitution of an alternative word is a typical action taken by
the person experiencing difficulties, but this measure, while enough
to overcome the momentary problem, is simply 'papering over the crack'.
More severe forms of language dysfunction can occur where verbal
expression is badly hampered. Typically, the words are there, somewhere;
it is remembering them that is the problem and this can break the fluency
of conversation, leading to a reluctance to participate and a sense
of isolation.Other ways language problems can manifest themselves
is when something entirely different comes out. Somewhere between thinking
it, and the words actually coming out, the words have been substituted.
Sometimes the substituted words will approximate to what was meant
to be said and sometimes they will convey an entirely different meaning
than that intended. They may not even be relevant and can be entirely
inappropriate to the conversation.
It is important to realize then, that the areas of the brain which
deal with spoken language can be affected.
Although usually a temporary event, language problems or difficulties
may last several weeks or months, be distressing, interrupt normal socializing
and leading to self-imposed 'isolation' in some instances.
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