PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

In a patient with a suspected stroke, what symptom closely aligns with their presenting complaint of slurred speech?

1. Altered consciousness

2. Facial droop

3. Visual disturbances

4. Memory loss

The correct answer is: Facial droop

In the context of a suspected stroke, slurred speech, also known as dysarthria, is often associated with facial droop. When a patient experiences a stroke, particularly if it affects the areas of the brain responsible for motor control of the facial muscles, it can lead to weakness on one side of the face. This facial droop can manifest as an inability to smile or show expressions symmetrically, which correlates with problems in speech clarity. Facial droop and slurred speech are both indicators of neurological compromise, commonly seen in strokes due to their effects on the motor pathways. In this situation, both symptoms suggest possible involvement of the brain’s left hemisphere when the right side of the face is affected, corresponding with the language centers of the brain. Thus, the presence of slurred speech in a suspected stroke patient aligns closely with careful observation for facial droop, as they both may indicate issues related to motor control and brain function integrity. While altered consciousness, visual disturbances, and memory loss can also be related to neurological issues, they do not directly correspond to slurred speech in the same way that facial droop does. Facial droop specifically involves the facial muscles and speech production, making it a more direct association in this context.