Huntington`s Disease

Huntington 's disease

Huntington 's disease is known to be fatal disease which causes chorea (involuntary movements , language and speech dysfunctions and even dementia (cognitive decline . It is necessary to admit that Huntington 's disease or HD is considered to be inherited genetically caused by mutation passing down from generation to generation . HD is characterized by psychiatric and neurobiological features meaning that disease is able to affect certain structures such as , for example , brain and basal ganglia which is responsible for performing important body functions - speech function , coordination and movement functions (Smith

br 2003 ) HD affects not only speech functions , but also perception , memory and thought because the basal ganglia are linked to frontal lobes . It may result in uncontrolled movements , speech problems and difficulties loss of intellectual abilities , behavioral and emotional misbalances (Walker 2007

HD 's symptoms are varying from patient to patient . However , it is suggested that the earlier the symptoms appear , the faster the illness progresses . Disease symptoms cause personality changing , for example changes in mood - depressions , apathy , irritability , aggression and anger . Cognitive decline is cause by problems with communication abilities , learning difficulties , difficulties with answering questions judgment impairment , and difficulties in making decisions . With the progression of disease , the patient fell more difficulties with intellectual tasks and communication processes (Walker 2007

Because of HD , person ' brain becomes depleted and it leads to disabilities in motor control and movements , cognition and thinking and finally , speech and swallowing problems . HD affects speech and language abilities because the centers of cognitive or motor control become affected and it may result in weakness of human muscles , chorea discoordination , memory problems , etc . It is known that language and speech function are under control of the left side of human brain whereas swallowing function is controlled at the base of the brain . HD starts from affecting caudate nucleus and putamen located in the brain core and in such a way causing speech and language problems with disease progression

Physicians and scientists state that communication problems are different in nature and their severity varies from person to person Nevertheless , the commonalities are present , though no two people with HD exactly alike symptoms . The variability continues with disease progression . In different stages of HD progression people may suffer from number of speech and language problems . Generally , people are suffering from the same areas of difficulties during disease progression (Smith 2003

Firstly , HD may cause dysarthria meaning person 's speech problems are caused by muscular weakness , improper coordination of lips and muscle 's slowness . One more problem is apraxia i .e . disruption on sequencing and programming of muscle movements necessary for speech . Furthermore , it becomes more difficult for a person to find necessary words because of memory decline . Communication process is also affected by loss of coordination of voice and breathing and very often a person is even unable to utter words because of poor voice quality meaning that person volume is either too high or too low . Person may have difficulties not only in perceiving...