What Causes Orolingual Dystonia?

Hi, I can only imagine just how hard this must be for you to watch your dad struggle with speech and chewing. Allow me to simplify this for you in easier terms. Orolingual dystonia means involuntary, repetitive, or sustained muscle contractions affecting the mouth, lips, tongue, or jaw. In your father’s case, the tongue and lower lip are getting pulled to one side while speaking or chewing — that is quite typical. These movements are not under his control and can make talking or eating very difficult. Causes may vary: drug-induced, mainly by medications given for psychiatric or gastric problems interfering with dopamine, for example, long-term administration of some types of antipsychotics, anti-nausea, or mood-stabilizing drugs; sometimes it may also occur without a recognizable cause (idiopathic) or as part of neurological diseases with involvement of the basal ganglia that govern coordination of movement. It may rarely follow trauma or infection affecting the nervous system. Since your father s problem has persisted for almost one year and is not improving with medicines, he really needs a detailed neurology review-ideally with a movement disorder specialist. They can identify whether it is medication-induced dystonia or primary dystonia and guide treatment properly. Some people get better with a change or cessation of the causative drug, while others get better relief with specific medications, botulinum toxin injections, or physiotherapy around the oral muscles. I wouldn t recommend continuing with the same medicines, unless the neurologist has recommended so, since some such drugs that act as energy boosters could worsen the condition if they have any effects on dopamine balance. So the next best step would be a full evaluation by a neurologist who handles movement disorders. Bring along all his previous prescriptions and reports for review. This condition is treatable, but improvement can be slow and gradual. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. If you have any further query I will be happy to help. Wish you good health. Regards, Dr. Usaid Yousuf General & Family Physician