Abstract
Background:
Attempting suicide by hanging has become one of the most preferred means among adolescents. Individuals who survive a suicide attempt by hanging have a range of deficits, including neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, pulmonary and even speech and language deficits. Literature regarding speech and language deficits in cases of near hanging is especially limited.
Objective:
This study aimed to demonstrate the sequelae of neurogenic speech deficits following a suicide attempt by hanging, the treatment strategies, and prognostic issues in one such case.
Methods:
We report of Patient X who attempted suicide by hanging. The patient was admitted and a detailed speech and language evaluation was completed.
Results:
Patient X was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy with organic amnesic syndrome. Consequent to the neurogenic insult, the patient demonstrated speech deficits that were characterized by moderate flaccid dysarthria and neurogenic stuttering. Patient X underwent a week of treatment, subsequent to which there was an improvement in certain speech subsystems. However, the neurogenic stuttering symptoms did not resolve completely even post therapy.
Conclusion:
Individuals who survive a suicide attempt by hanging have a range of deficits, including speech deficits that need to be addressed by a speech language pathologist. This case report is an eye opener for speech language pathologists regarding their role in such cases.
Delayed Amnesic Syndrome after Riluzole Use in Major Depressive Disorder: A Case Report
