Bell Palsy Case Study

“Bell’s palsy is an unexpected and rather sudden form of facial paralysis or severe facial nerve weakness that is most common but not limited to the ages of 15 through to 60.”[1] As evidenced in the photograph, “Bell’s palsy affects the facial nerves that control eye and mouth movement and frowning on one side of the face.”[2] The facial nerve or seventh cranial nerve controls most of the muscles in the face and parts of the ear. “This nerve travels through the narrow fallopian canal in the skull, below the ear to the muscles in the face.”[3] The seventh cranial nerve carries impulses to the lacrimal or tear glands, saliva glands, and the muscles of a small bone in the middle of the ear called the stapes and therefore such places could be negatively affected by Bell’s palsy.
Signs and symptoms
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Payne,J. (Feb 2016). Patient, Bell’s palsy. https://patient.info/health/bells-palsy. Site visited 23/04/17

2. National institute of neurological disorders and stroke. (April 2003). Bells’ palsy facts sheet. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Fact-Sheets/Bells-Palsy-Fact-Sheet. Site visited 23/04/17
3. Better health Queensland. (August 2016). Bells’ palsy. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bells-palsy. Site Visited 23/04/17
4. Taylor DC, 2011, ‘Bell palsy’, Medscape Reference: Drugs, diseases and procedures. Site accessed 25/04/17
5. Samsen,S. (Sep 2015). Bell’s palsy signs and symptoms. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/bells-palsy. Site visited 25/04/17
6. Unknown Author. (Dec 2014). Mayo Clinic, Definition of Bell’s Palsy.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/basics/definition/con-20020529. Site visited 25/04/17
7. Smith,K. (Feb 2017). Facial Palsy, Kay’s story. http://www.facialpalsy.org.uk/personalstories/kays-story/. Site visited 25/04/17

*** Reference 7 aided in providing personal and precise examples of symptoms and recovery methods from Bell’s palsy