Which of the following is a common stroke symptom involving speech?

• A. Numbness on one side
• B. Confusion about time
• C. Difficulty speaking
• D. Fever

Answer: (C)

Stroke can disrupt the brain areas that control language and the muscles used for speaking, leading to sudden problems with speech. A common sign is difficulty speaking, which may show up as slurred words, trouble forming sentences, or trouble finding the right words. This direct speech disturbance is why the option describing difficulty speaking is the best choice.

Other signs listed can occur with stroke in some cases—sensory numbness on one side can accompany a stroke, and confusion can accompany brain events—but they do not specifically capture a speech-related symptom. Fever is not a typical stroke symptom. If someone suddenly cannot speak or has slurred speech, it’s urgent to seek emergency help.