Family members sometimes mistake unusual speech for confusion, stress, or exhaustion. However, a sudden language disturbance can indicate that an area of the brain responsible for speech or comprehension is not receiving adequate blood flow.
Pay attention if someone who normally speaks clearly suddenly begins using incorrect words, cannot repeat a simple sentence, or appears unable to understand ordinary instructions.
Do not wait to see whether the person improves after resting.
What to do: Call emergency services immediately if speech or comprehension changes suddenly. Note the time the symptoms began, if known, and tell medical personnel.
- Sudden Changes in Vision
Vision problems can occur during a stroke or TIA.
A person might suddenly lose sight in one eye, experience double vision, or find that part of their visual field has disappeared. Objects may appear blurred, or the person may struggle to see clearly despite having normal vision moments earlier.
These symptoms can interfere with everyday activities. Someone might suddenly have difficulty reading a message, recognizing a face, or judging the distance to an object.
