Warning Signs Of Bell's Palsy

Increased Sound Sensitivity

Increased sound sensitivity describes when ordinary sounds seem louder than usual and cause discomfort or pain. Common sounds that can be bothersome to affected individuals include kitchen appliances, car engines, loud conversations, and running faucets. This increased sound sensitivity is a result of some mechanism causing the brain to receive exaggerated or confused sound vibrations from the ear. When the facial nerve becomes compressed because it is too swollen to pass through the skull canal without interference, the stapedius muscle can become paralyzed. The stapedius muscle is a very small muscle located in the middle ear that is directly connected to the stapes bone. Sound waves from everyday sounds enter a healthy ear and cause the stapes bone to vibrate. The stapedius muscle helps stabilize the stapes bone when sound waves from loud noises enter the ear and cause intense vibrations. When this muscle does not function properly due to Bell's palsy, the patient will experience hyperacusis.

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Decreased Sense Of Taste

When food molecules dissolve on a healthy individual's taste buds, this interaction is what allows for taste. Cells that make up the taste buds have receptors that secrete neurotransmitters when certain substances are ingested and mix with saliva. These neurotransmitters that are released send an activation to the sensory neurons in the glossopharyngeal and facial cranial nerves. The glossopharyngeal nerve connects to the taste buds in the back two-thirds of the tongue. An individual's facial nerve is connected to the taste buds on the front third of the tongue. When the facial nerve becomes compressed by the canal in their skull due to swelling from Bell's palsy, it may not work correctly. An individual with Bell's palsy will experience this decreased sense of taste in the front part of their tongue due to this anatomical arrangement.

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