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Stuttering induced by thalamic deep brain stimulation for dystonia

  • Movement Disorders - Short Communication
  • Published:
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Abstract

We report a patient in whom deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus of the thalamus (Vim) for treating dystonia reversibly induced stuttering at suboptimal stimulation parameters. Adjustments of stimulation parameters resulted in excellent control of dystonic motor symptoms and complete resolution of speech dysfluency. This is the first report on stuttering as an adverse effect of Vim stimulation which is primarily used to treat tremors of various etiologies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Rehabilitation Center Godeshoehe, Waldstrasse 2-10, 53177, Bonn, Germany

    Niels Allert & Daniela Kelm

  2. Department of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany

    Christian Blahak

  3. Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany

    Hans-Holger Capelle & Joachim K. Krauss

Authors
  1. Niels Allert
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  2. Daniela Kelm
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  3. Christian Blahak
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  4. Hans-Holger Capelle
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  5. Joachim K. Krauss
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Correspondence to Niels Allert.

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Allert, N., Kelm, D., Blahak, C. et al. Stuttering induced by thalamic deep brain stimulation for dystonia. J Neural Transm 117, 617–620 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-010-0380-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-010-0380-0

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