Smiley Law - February 2019

DYSARTHRIA IN CAR ACCIDENT VICTIMS Knowing the Signs Can Stop Them in Their Tracks

The worst effects of a car accident can linger after the impact is over. Long after the initial hospital visit, repairs, citations, or criminal charges, a condition called dysarthria can sneak up on you. Stemming from a brain injury that may have gone undiagnosed, you might not even realize that you’re showing symptoms of the affliction. The injury mainly manifests in speech patterns, causing the affected individual to have difficulty articulating their words. It all comes down to an innate spell of muscle weakness — thus affecting the proper functions of muscles in our throats and faces. By better understanding the symptoms, you will be able to get the disorder diagnosed and treated as early as possible. Intuitively, the best way for early detection is to pay close attention to the speech of a loved one who was recently involved in an accident. One of the main factors is slow speech. If the person in question is taking longer than usual to form sentences, drawing out their words, or otherwise speaking at a slightly different pace than those around them, that could be a sign. Another symptom is slurred speech. Does the person sound like they have been drinking even though they haven’t? This could be directly correlated to the onset of dysarthria. On the same thread, being frequently misunderstood by others could be a way to self-diagnose the issue. If those around you tend to have trouble comprehending your words for long periods of time, it may be time to see a physician.

During your visit, it’s important to let a doctor know right away that you’ve been involved in a car accident and are worried about a possible injury to your nervous system or brain. If a physician has a better idea of what is happening and you or a loved one is able to fully explain your symptoms, you’ll be that much closer to getting the treatment you need. In the event that you’ve been diagnosed with dysarthria, contact your trusted attorneys at Smiley Law Firm. We promise to fight tirelessly to bring your case to light and will do our best to get you compensation for your pain and all the emotional turmoil it brings.

VALENTINE’S DAY COOKIE CARDS

TAKE A BREAK

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup sugar • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 sticks unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

• 2 large egg yolks • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract • Royal icing, sprinkles, and edible markers, for decorating

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour with sugar and salt. Add butter and combine using a mixer at low speed, until butter breaks down into small, crumbly pieces. Increase mixing speed to medium and mix until butter and flour clump. 3. Add egg yolks and vanilla extract to bowl, return mixer to low, and mix until dough congeals. 4. Carefully roll dough into a sheet 1/16-inch thick and cut into 4x6-inch cards. 5. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake cookie cards for 6 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through. 6. Let cookies cool completely, decorate, and distribute.

Inspired by Food & Wine magazine

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