Transient Stuttering as a Sole Presentation in a Patient With a Subcentimeter Left Frontal Cortical Ischemic Infarct

TL;DR

A rare case of temporary stuttering caused by a small stroke in the brain's left frontal area is reported, highlighting the need to consider minor strokes in stuttering diagnoses.

Contribution

This paper presents a rare case of transient, isolated stuttering caused by a subcentimeter stroke, expanding the understanding of stroke-related speech disorders.

Findings

Transient stuttering can occur as an isolated symptom following a subcentimeter stroke.

Such small strokes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of stuttering.

The case emphasizes the diversity of stroke-induced speech disorders.

Abstract

Stuttering is a complex speech disorder that is associated with a variety of etiologies, including psychological factors, metabolic disorders, and structural abnormalities. While stuttering is typically not caused by stroke, it is important to include it in the diagnostic evaluation, especially in patients with a history of neurological conditions. Of the clinical presentations of stroke-induced stuttering, transient stuttering following stroke has seldom been documented, as most patients who develop a stutter following a stroke end up developing permanent speech deficits. Additionally, as most cases of stroke-induced stuttering are part of a broader neurological presentation, stuttering generally does not present as an isolated symptom. Furthermore, although strokes of various sizes have been implicated in stuttering, it is quite uncommon for the affected lesion to be smaller than 1 cm. We present a rare case of transient, isolated stuttering following a subcentimeter stroke and a subsequent review of relevant literature. Our case report highlights the diversity of stroke-related speech disorders and the importance of considering even minor strokes in the differential diagnosis of stuttering.

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