TRAUMATIC MUTISM IN SEVERE HEAD-INJURY RELIEVED BY ORAL DIAZEPAM

A 34-year-old woman with a severe closed-head injury had many impairme nts including apparent global aphasia. After a diazepam premedication for a motor point block she was heard to speak a few words. A trial of oral diazepam succeeded in restoring speech adequate to make her need s known, which persisted on a maintenance dose of 5 mg t.d.s. The poss ible diagnoses and reasons for this phenomenon are discussed. We sugge st that diazepam may be useful in assessing speech in selected people with severe head injuries.