glossopharyngeal nerve palsy

Last reviewed 12/2022

A glossopharyngeal nerve palsy is paralysis of the ninth cranial nerve.

Clinical features include:

  • loss of sensation - tested by the gag reflex
  • loss of taste sensation on the posterior 1/3 of the tongue

The competence of cranial nerves IX and X are usually tested with an overlapping set of tests, thus:

  • palatal movement - the gag reflex
  • quality of speech:
    • nasal
    • guttural
  • the ability to cough