Which symptom is commonly associated with Bell palsy on the affected side?

Which symptom is commonly associated with Bell palsy on the affected side?

• A. Vision loss
• B. Tongue numbness
• C. Dizziness
• D. Hyperacusis

Answer: (D)

Bell palsy is a lower motor neuron palsy of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) that causes unilateral facial weakness. A classic feature on the affected side is hyperacusis—increased sensitivity to sound—because the facial nerve also supplies the stapedius muscle in the middle ear. When stapedius is paralyzed, it can’t dampen sounds properly, making normal noises seem loud. Vision loss would point to ocular problems, tongue numbness isn’t typical of facial nerve injury (though taste on the anterior two-thirds can be affected), and dizziness suggests vestibular involvement, not a pure facial nerve palsy.

Bell palsy is a lower motor neuron palsy of the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) that causes unilateral facial weakness. A classic feature on the affected side is hyperacusis—increased sensitivity to sound—because the facial nerve also supplies the stapedius muscle in the middle ear. When stapedius is paralyzed, it can’t dampen sounds properly, making normal noises seem loud. Vision loss would point to ocular problems, tongue numbness isn’t typical of facial nerve injury (though taste on the anterior two-thirds can be affected), and dizziness suggests vestibular involvement, not a pure facial nerve palsy.