What are the symptoms of Bell's palsy?

You may notice that you cannot smile on one side of your face. Sometimes, patients with Bell’s palsy temporarily cannot close one eyelid completely, which may lead to eye irritation or the feeling of something stuck in the eye.

People with Bell’s palsy may experience facial numbness, although their skin usually retains some sensation. Pain may occur either before the paralysis begins or as it develops. Other symptoms may include:

• Decreased tear production
• Blurriness in your vision
• Diminished taste sensations
• Distortions or discomfort in your hearing

Facial nerves are responsible for contraction of the muscles of the face, for production of tears from the lacrimal gland (located under the upper eyelid), and for conveying the sense of taste from the front part of the tongue. Therefore, damage to the nerve or a disruption in its function can lead to many health problems. Symptoms of Bell's palsy are due to damage to facial nerves. Symptoms vary from person to person and range in severity from mild weakness to total paralysis. They may include twitching, weakness, or paralysis on one or both sides of the face, drooping of the eyelid and corner of the mouth, headache, drooling, dryness of the eye or mouth, impairment of taste, and excessive tearing in one eye. However, these symptoms usually begin suddenly and reach their peak within 48 hours.

Other symptoms may include pain or discomfort around the jaw and behind the ear, ringing in one or both ears, headache, loss of taste, an increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side, impaired speech, dizziness, and difficulty eating or drinking.

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