Glossoplegia

/ɡlɔsəˈpliːdʒə/ noun

Definition

Paralysis or loss of motor control in the tongue, usually caused by nerve damage, stroke, or neurological disease.

Etymology

From Greek 'glossa' (tongue) + 'plegia' (stroke, paralysis). The '-plegia' suffix comes from the same root that gives us 'paralysis' and is widely used in neurology to describe loss of movement.

Kelly Says

Glossoplegia can happen after a stroke when the brain's signals to tongue muscles get cut off—it's why some stroke patients have trouble speaking or swallowing, and speech therapy can sometimes help the brain rewire those connections.

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