Question
What are the specific symptoms of facial paralysis? What precautions should I be aware of?
Answer
The symptoms of facial paralysis may include involvement of the geniculate ganglion, leading to hyperacusis, taste impairment in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue on the same side, and peripheral facial paralysis. Additionally, pain in the affected side’s mastoid area, reduced sensation in the earlobe and external auditory canal may occur, and sometimes blisters may appear in the external auditory canal or eardrum, known as Hunt’s syndrome. If the injury affects facial nerve branches above the glosso-pharyngeal nerve, there may also be taste impairment in the anterior two-thirds of the tongue on the same side. Understanding these symptoms can help in early detection and reduction of the occurrence of facial paralysis.