Dysnomia, husband having difficulty in word retrieval.

Dear Ask The Doctor: My husband is 41 and experiencing problems with his speech, mostly word retrieval. He has also started getting migraines. He has been on high blood pressure medication for at least 5 years. His doctor seems unconcerned saying it may be just stress or a thyroid problem. I don't see anything like this when I read the symptoms of thyroid problems. Should we be more persistent in looking for answers?

Dear Brenda: The symptoms of dysnomia (difficulty in object naming and word retrieval) is a serious concern especially in patients having history of hypertension. It is important to rule out stroke or head injury as the cause of dysnomia. I would advise that you consult your doctor or preferably a neurologist for further evaluation. A CT of the brain will definitely help in the diagnosis.