Exam Master Neuro Practice Exam 2026 - Free Neuro Practice Questions and Study Guide

The most likely cause of left-sided weakness and slurred speech following neck trauma in an 11-year-old boy is stroke due to carotid dissection. This condition occurs when there is a tear in the artery wall, leading to blood clots that can obstruct blood flow to the brain. The symptoms described, including weakness on one side of the body and speech difficulties, are indicative of a neurological event affecting brain areas responsible for motor function and speech, typically associated with a stroke.

Neck trauma, particularly in young athletes or individuals engaged in contact sports, can lead to carotid artery dissection. This is important to consider since the boy’s recent history of neck injury closely correlates with the development of these neurological symptoms. The sudden onset of weakness and slurred speech is characteristic of stroke events, often leading practitioners to evaluate for issues related to vascular compromise following trauma.

Other potential causes, such as cervical spinal injury or transverse myelitis, could also lead to weakness but typically present with different accompanying symptoms, such as loss of reflexes or bladder bowel dysfunction in the case of myelitis, which wouldn’t solely account for isolated left-sided weakness and speech alteration. Conversion disorder, which involves psychological factors manifesting as physical symptoms, would not be