Caradoc-Davies T H
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Disabil Rehabil. 1996 Sep;18(9):482-4. doi: 10.3109/09638289609165913.
A 34-year-old woman with a severe closed-head injury had many impairments including apparent global aphasia. After a diazepam premedication for a motor point block she was heard to speak a few words. A trial of oral diazepam succeeded in restoring speech adequate to make her needs known, which persisted on a maintenance dose of 5 mg t.d.s. The possible diagnoses and reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. We suggest that diazepam may be useful in assessing speech in selected people with severe head injuries.
