Cranial mononeuropathy VII

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Central nervous system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Cranial mononeuropathy VII

Alternative Names:

Neuropathy - facial; Facial nerve palsy

Symptoms:

Face feels stiff
Face feels pulled to one side
Difficulty eating (items fall out of the weak corner of the mouth)
Change in facial appearance
- Facial droop
- Difficulty with facial expressions, grimacing
- Difficulty with fine facial movements
- Paralysis of one side of the face
- Difficulty closing one eye
Impairment of taste
Sensitivity to sound (hyperacusis)
Headache
Increased loudness of sound in one ear
Pain behind the ear (for Bell's palsy)

Signs and tests:

An examination will show facial drooping that may be on one side of the face or isolated to the forehead, eyelid or mouth. Examination of the tympanic membrane in the ear may reveal vesicles.

A blood test may be done to check for Lyme disease. If a more systemic cause is suspected, a lumbar puncture may be performed. If a tumor compressing the nerve is suspected, an MRI of the head may be done.

Review Date: 8/1/2004
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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