1 Here, we report the case of a 66‐year‐old male with PSP‐Richardson syndrome (PSP‐RS) who presented with constant involuntary groaning that, at times, he could voluntarily suppress. Constant grunting and groaning are involuntary and uncontrollable vocalizations, typical for several types of dementia, and have also been associated with advanced progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). They range from simple and brief sounds (e.g., throat clearing, lip smacking, or grunting) to complex and socially inappropriate obscenities such as coprolalia. In extreme cases they may need to sleep in another room.Involuntary vocalizations are a striking feature of several neurological conditions, often associated with movement disorders. The bed partner may need to wear ear plugs. There is no specific treatment for groaning. This doctor will make sure that other conditions are not the cause of the groaning. This study will help reveal if the groaning is related to any other sleep disorder.Ī patient will usually be referred to an ear, nose, and throat specialist for a thorough exam. It also records how your arms and legs move. It charts your brain waves, heartbeat, and breathing as you sleep. Your doctor may have you do a sleep study if your problem is severely disturbing your sleep or there is high clinical suspicion of a neurological problem like seizures. Tests are not normally needed for someone who has sleep-related groaning unless it interferes with your daytime alertness, your sleep quality or your bed partner’s sleep. Be sure to inform her of any past or present drug and medication use. The doctor will need to know your complete medical history. She will want to know how often it occurs and how long it lasts. The doctor will need to know when the groaning began. You should also see a sleep doctor if you can’t sleep well or are very tired during the day. You may need to see a sleep doctor if sleep-related groaning severely disrupts your bed partner’s sleep. Unlike groaning, it does not appear in blocks of time in the night. But stridor happens with almost every breath. Some people can make a harsh, shrill, creaking sound when they breathe. But the primary sound of snoring occurs when you inhale. A moaning type of sound can also be made by snoring. This sound would not occur on a regular basis like groaning does. Groaning may occur from time to time during other stages of sleep.Ī moaning sound can also occur during an epileptic seizure. These latter periods of REM sleep include most episodes of groaning. Your last period of REM sleep may last as long as an hour. The REM stage gets longer during each sleep cycle. The first REM period tends to last for only a few minutes. REM sleep makes up about 20 to 25 percent of your total sleep time and it varies with age. It usually begins 90 to 120 minutes after you fall asleep. The fourth stage of each cycle is called REM sleep. You normally complete four to six sleep cycles in one night. There are four stages of sleep that make up one sleep cycle. The groaning appears more often during REM sleep. You may also have a hoarse voice or sore throat in the morning. Otherwise, there is usually no major sleep complaint. You may have a mild case of restless sleep or daytime fatigue as result of sleep-related groaning. There also does not appear to be any link to mental disorders. A physical exam tends to show no related medical cause. There is also no abnormal brain activity involved. It is not related to any problem with breathing. The cause of sleep-related groaning is not known. Other descriptions of the groaning sound include the following: The groans are much more disturbing to bed partners, roommates or family members who can hear them. If you are groaning, you may be unaware of the sounds. But it tends to stop when you change positions in bed. Groaning can occur when lying in any position. Despite the moaning sound, the groans do not seem to be related to any emotions. ![]() These clusters of groaning may recur many times per night.įacial expressions are calm and do not reflect anguish. Groans often repeat in clusters for two minutes to one hour. The sound can last from only a few moments to more than 40 seconds. Then you make a long moaning, humming or cracking sound while breathing out. Your breathing becomes unusually slow during a groaning episode. The groaning sound is usually quite loud. Sleep-related groaning is a long-lasting disorder that often occurs nightly. Sleep-related groaning, also called catathrenia, causes you to groan vocally while you sleep. Resources for Health Care Professionalsĭecember 2020 | Reviewed by : Rafael J.
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