Five days mute

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It's not particularly frightening. At most it's a bit frustrating when I am unable to communicate nuanced ideas, or have to write things down.

I did drop things, but I didn't curse. I stepped on something and said "ow" even though it didn't hurt. I do that a lot, though.

As I described earlier in the thread, it felt like a connection between brain and mouth, something that translates images into speech, wasn't doing anything. Like it was neatly cut. When I wanted to speak, I couldn't actually produce any speech.

SuperTrouper's descriptions are more severe than I experience, but are pretty similar otherwise. One reason I responded to her threads was because I hadn't seen much discussion from others about losing speech:

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postp3672434.html

Also, as cyberdad quotes in that thread, from wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_mutism



It could be conversion disorder, it could be "selective mutism" as described above, it could be an artifact of autism.

Another article (also linked in the thread above) about mutism and autism:

http://insideperspectives.wordpress.com ... on/mutism/

Yeah that's how mine feel when they get really bad. Like that part of my brain that translates thoughts to speech has just completely shut down.

Situational selective mutism still happens to me, but it is a different thing.

I should probably dig up older threads about this.

Oh, and I have selective mutism too, or something like it, as there are people I can't speak to, and certain contexts in which it is difficult to particular people.

How are you certain it's not a mini stroke?

If you have learned to express your thoughts via writing later in life than normal, this can map out on a different part of the brain than typical speech.

If you are taking longer to complete motor tasks than usual (getting food, etc.) but are able to do certain things then this could be a mini stroke.

Stroke or not, two options are available in the event that it happens in the future (and it sounds likely).

One, prepare cards with messages on them to take with you to your medical doctor or emergency facility.
Two, start learning a different language than your native language, and preferably somethng that is likely to be spoken by someone in your area. In the U.S. French, Spanish, and German are all safe options, one more than the other depending on your geographical location. Metropolitan areas give greater variety and will include Japanese, Korean, Chinese. Pick one that is easiest for you that you can use.

Why learn another language? Studies show that victims who lose their ability to verbalize in their native tongue through watever reasons (stroke, physical or psychological trauma, etc.) actually lose part or all functionality in the area of the brain that coordinates that knowledge or skill (loss or limitation of motor skills are included in this). However, learning a new language, later in life than childhood, maps the new language in a different part of the brain and provides a redundancy in the ability to communicate.

So, long term option, pick a language and learn it, use mnemonics and other tricks to learn it quickly and learn important words and phrases first. "I have to use the bathroom" "I am hungry" "I have pain" "I need a doctor", etc.

Short term, have some cards or notes handy that you can give to a medical professional, Summarize your symptoms, have a list of dates for each time it has happened in the past and the durations and the symptoms for each (summarized). have a list of any medications you are on. have a list of emergency contacts, have a lists of responsibilities you need to have met while incapacitated.

Most importantly, when it happens again, get to a medical professional. they may want to do an MRI, CatScan, contrast, etc.

Thank you for the advice, although one of the reasons I am fairly certain that it is not a stroke is because I have had it happen in the past, going all the way back to childhood according to my mother, and I've had my brain scanned a few times with no evidence of strokes.

I also didn't lose any motor function. I did have other increased difficulties, but those were more akin to executive function difficulties.

If I took any longer to get food I'd probably starve.

the 2nd language, even sign language, would be a good option to consider even if it isn't stroke. Do you have anyone who can help you when you go through these periods that you could rely on to prepare food and do tasks according to pre-arranged signals, etc.?

I had this problem toward the end of high school and beginning of college. I was under a huge amount of stress and pretty much just shut myself off. Talking usually got me in trouble and no one really listened anyways, so I just stopped. I got tired of all the drama and stress talking brought and couldn't handle it anymore. I would talk sometimes, mostly at home, but I didn't say much. I talked some to friends on the phone but it was mostly them talking - with the exception of my best friend, but we didn't get to talk often. I also don't remember much at all from this time of my life, like most of it's just blacked out. I had problems talking all through college and didn't quite get my voice back until the job I had last year when I had to force myself into talking and being more of a leader. Having a few teachers who really encouraged and took an interest in me helped a lot too.

I wish I knew more sign language so I could communicate that way when I don't feel like talking, but my brother is the only one who would probably talk with me that way. With sign language I don't have to turn my thoughts into verbal words, they can stay somewhat abstract. Right now I'm starting to burn out and wishing I didn't live with my family, especially my mom (who I love, but she's very outgoing, always talking, always wanting to interact type of person and it drains me), and I'm so glad it's summer and my job is slow. I don't think I could handle the ton of human interaction I get during the school year.

~K

Learning sign language I agree makes a lot of sense for anyone who has periods where they lose speech.

Learning a second language, I really don't see the benefit based on myself. When I lose speech it has nothing to do with losing forming words or losing English, it has to do with not allowing words to form vocally.

(I did learn some Spanish in high school, its helped not at all with these episodes)

^^^
Agree with Tuttle

While sign language might be helpful (wouldn't know really, but imagine it could be).

I can tell you from firsthand experience that multiple languages is completely not helpful. Even the ones I learned after childhood. Not being able to translate thoughts into speech means exactly that - in any language.

then this clearly indicates the issue is psychosomatic and not physiological, whereas AS generally is a physiological issue or set of physiological issues. which would suggest that the loss of speech is a response separate from AS but possibly in response or related to the stress and issues of AS.

loss of speech and functionality from physiological issues will map to specific parts of the brain. Languages and communication skills are mapped to specific parts of the brain. Learning different communication skills at different periods in our life map them to different parts. total loss of communication, affecting ONLY the various parts of the brain that the different communication skills have beem mapped to is generally psychosomatic. If it were physical/physiological then the condition would likely be far more detrimental and even immediately life threatening.

I don't mind if you characterize it as possibly psychosomatic, because that is a possibility that has come to mind. However, I would suggest you do not have enough data to state any particular conclusion for sure.

Also, I would like to point out that psychosomatic does not mean that something isn't real. Conversion disorder is psychosomatic, and the difficulties it causes (like paralysis and seizures for two examples) are quite real and sometimes dangerous to those experiencing them.

Also, this article might be edifying:

http://everything2.com/user/Zifendorf/writeups/shutdown

This thread is very interesting to me as I really curious of such a circumscribed yet rather perplexing temporary lack of an ability.

I think maybe writing down your thoughts as simply and concise as you can real time, meaning you carry a pen and a little notebook with yourself, and trying to read them out loud would help? If it wouldn't, you can still hand it over... Maybe it can help to release whatever that blocks your particular ability.

This happens to me too.
Sometimes it stays for days, but mostly just hours;
for me it is like partial shutdown situation, I guess;
I can take care of myself, move and stuff,
but speech is still too complex, as are situations related to it.

As for speaking and singing -

I'm pretty sure I once skimmed a study (something relating to a type of aphasia and/or left-brain lesions that could make people be able to sing words they can't speak) that while in the brain the overlap of activated areas was found to be huge, there was additional and/or enhanced activation in some regions when the individuals were singing. I'm not sure what it was that I have read however. If I'm going to find it, I'll link it.

Singing + aphasia leads me to Broca's aphasia and it seems to be a well-known phenomenon that some people with the disorder are sometimes able to sing sentences that they cannot speak. I wonder how this connects with some types of autism (because there are others on the spectrum that have different presentations of being able to sing but not speak).

Would guess it is because you do not :create: anything when you sing.
It is all there..the words, the mood, the meaning.

You do not have to think how to say it, what words to use, it is already there to be used.

I am speaking specifically to Kjas' statement of not being able to speak in any language, regardless of when learned. Communications skills and tactics are imprinted onto our brain. Learned skills and responses. When you learn one it gets imprinted into one spot. when you learn another, later in life it gets imprinted into another spot.

Two things can prevent communications from working. 1) physical issues/trauma 2) psychological issues/trauma.

The only physical trauma that would affect multiple parts of the brain is major trauma. This type of trauma is often life threatening. If a person has regular episodes of commuincation loss that prevents ANY language learned requires either major physical trauma, or psychological (psychosomatic) issues. it's one or the other. Given the fact that everything returns to normal after the episodes decreases the likelihood of it being repeated major physical trauma and greatly increases the mathematical probability of it being psychosomatic.

The data that Kjas provided is enough to be stastically correct in stating that kjas is describing psychosomatic issues.

Nothing more, nothing less. I quoted and addressed Kjas on that statement. If it offends you then I offer my apologies for the misunderstanding, not the accurate statement based on probabilities and statistics. I am merely discussing something and not offering diagnosis.

FM