What is flat affect8/25/2023 ![]() ![]() This diminished musical ability can cause the person to sound monotone when speaking, giving them an almost robotic voice. When a person suffers damage to the right side of their brain, not only can their ability to appreciate music be diminished, but they may also have trouble picking up on the subtle changes in pitch or tone during speech. This awareness also plays a part in the way we speak. The brain’s right hemisphere controls a person’s awareness and appreciation of music. Specifically, speech therapy can help you eliminate a monotone voice.Ī monotone voice usually occurs after a right hemisphere injury. Speech TherapyĪnother therapy that can help you overcome flat affect is speech therapy. ![]() The more you practice these behaviors, the more you will rewire your brain until these actions feel natural again. For example, a therapist might help you learn to smile and make eye contact when you say hello to someone. They do this through a series of exercises that help a person better understand their behavior and the emotions that might have caused it.Ĭognitive-behavioral therapy can also retrain people to use facial expressions when interacting with others. Using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Flat AffectĬBT therapists can teach patients how to identify their emotions and react appropriately. In those cases, cognitive-behavioral therapy can be useful. Sometimes, flat affect can occur jointly with otherĬognitive effects that make it difficult for patients to understand whichĮmotions they feel. Addressing them with a therapist and medication The best way to treat flat affect after brain injury is to address the root causes.įor example, it is possible that your depression or PTSD isĬausing you emotional problems. They do care, they just are having difficulty showing it. But for most brain injury patients, this is not true. These symptoms can make the person appear as though they do not care about anything or other people. People with brain injury can also develop a condition known as blunted affect or “emotional blunting.” Symptoms of blunted affect are similar to flat affect, but instead of showing no emotions, the person’s expressions are simply restrained.īlunted affect is most common in patients with PTSD. It’s important to realize that patients with flat affect can still experience emotions, they have simply lost the ability to express themselves. relaxed and staying still in a situation where they should be tense) Persons who experience flat affect after brain injury often show certain symptoms, such as: In addition, some medications can also impact the way a person feels and shows emotion. This can make it difficult for the person to display emotions through their facial expressions. Facial paralysis. Sometimes brain injury can damage the nerves that control facial expression.One of the main symptoms of PTSD is emotional suppression and withdrawal. PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder). This disorder is also common after brain injury.This causes people to lose interest in things that they used to enjoy, which makes them seem detached and apathetic. Depression is unfortunately common after brain injury and can interfere with the way the brain processes emotion. Other conditions that can cause similar symptoms after brain injury include: Not every TBI survivor who shows a lack of emotion has flat affect. Other Reasons Why Someone May Lack Emotional Expression Psychologists call this lack of emotional expressiveness after brain injury “flat affect” because the person’s voice often has a flat, monotonous sound. Therefore, if this cortex becomes damaged, a person will have trouble expressing emotions with their face and voice. The cingulate cortex helps translate emotions into facial expressions. Thus, if a brain injury damages these structures, the person may lose control of their emotions.Īnother part of the brain that plays a role in emotion is the cingulate cortex, which connects to the limbic system. They are what allow us to react appropriately to emotional situations. These structures help the brain control emotional responses. This system includes three important structures within the brain: The area of the brain most involved in emotion is called the limbic system. What Causes Flat Affect After Brain Injury? You’re about to learn the causes and symptoms of flat affect and how to treat it. Depression and other emotional problems can also contribute. This condition, also known as flat affect, is caused by damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. Rather, they have limited ability to show signs of emotion with their facial expressions or voice, and typically demonstrate less reaction to emotional stimuli. However, most people with this problem do not actually lack emotions. A seeming lack of emotion is a common symptom of brain injury.
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