Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) - SLP Explained
- Beyond Speech Therapy
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) can be broadly defined as neurological symptoms that are experienced involuntarily and are not caused by known structural damage/disease. Some symptoms may include: weakness or paralysis, non-epileptic seizures, tremors, etc. Within the scope of Speech-Language Pathology, this can include sudden changes to the voice, speech, and/or swallowing.
What is FND?
FND symptoms are real, and they can be very distressing and impactful on daily life. Unlike other Neurological disorders, FND is not caused by structural damage to the brain (as in a stroke or traumatic brain injury). FND is caused by a disruption to the brain signalling pattern leading to symptoms that cannot be explained by damage, disease, or structural abnormality.
An analogy for this is to think of the brain like a computer, with FND the “hardware” is intact, but the “software” is malfunctioning.
FND & Speech-Language Therapy
FND can present in a variety of ways, some individuals may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
A) Speech - Individuals may experience slurred speech, stuttering-like disruptions, difficulty initiating speech (feeling “blocked”), or speech pattern changes, including speaking with an “accent” or suddenly speaking in a “child-like” way.
B) Voice - Individuals may experience sudden changes to pitch or loss of voice.
C) Cognitive-Communication - Individuals may experience “brain fog” which often includes difficulty word-finding and organizing thoughts.
D) Swallowing - Individuals may feel like food is “sticking” or experience discomfort, despite normal findings on swallowing tests.
*With FND, symptoms are not always consistent and may fluctuate depending on time of day, specific situations, level of fatigue, etc.
How can Speech Therapy help?
A Speech-Language Pathologist can support FND recovery in a variety of ways, beginning with education. Understanding FND and feeling validated in your symptoms is often the first step towards improvement. FND can be scary and isolating, but with the support of a team (often including a Psychologist, Neurologist, Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist) it doesn’t have to be!
While every treatment approach will be person-specific, 2 major components of Speech Therapy for FND will likely include:
Establishing Mindfulness - Starting speech therapy from a place of relaxation and regulation often leads to the best results. This might include diaphragmatic breathing, awareness of body, guided progressive muscle relaxation and massage/release of the neck/jaw speaking muscles.
Restoring Automatic Function - Moving focus away from the symptoms can help tap into the “automatic” software and relieve symptoms. This might include elicitation of “non” speech sounds (e.g., humming, laughing, etc.) and external, tactile, rhythmic stimulation (e.g., tapping a finger, use of a fidget toy, etc.) while speaking.
FND Support at Beyond Speech Therapy
Finding a team who understands your diagnosis and symptoms can be difficult.
At Beyond Speech we prioritize compassionate, flexible, person-centred care and we offer a free 15-minute consultation to speak with an SLP about your needs to determine if Speech Therapy is right for you. A consultation can also help us match your needs with a knowledgeable and passionate SLP.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you gave any questions info@beyondspeech.ca
Check out these amazing FND resources to learn more:
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