Grammys reporter Serene Branson hay have suffered neurological attack on air, experts say
Grammys reporter Serene Branson hay have suffered neurological attack on air, experts say
Posted By Meaghan Murphy On February 14, 2011
*The clean version was removed, this is a low quality clip.*
An entertainment reporter at the local CBS station in Los Angeles alarmed viewers when she flubbed her words and started speaking gibberish during a live broadcast from the Staples Center after the Grammy awards Sunday night.
KCBS-TV’s Serene Branson was reporting on “highlights and backstage coverage” from the award ceremony when her delivery devolved into a series of nonsensical words.
Many viewers were concerned that she had possibly suffered a stroke during the live broadcast.
British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Branson had been hospitalized following her broadcast, noting that “strokes can cause speech problems in different ways, either by interfering with the brain's ability to recognize and construct words.”
But other reports said Branson was examined by paramedics outside Staples Center after she was cut from the airwaves. Edward Lawrence, a KCBS reporter, was concerned enough to tweet last night that "station is looking into if there was a problem."
Monday morning, KCBS released a statement saying: "Her vital signs were normal. She was not hospitalized. As a precautionary measure, a colleague gave her a ride home, and she says she is feeling fine this morning."
FOX411 talked to two MDs about the disturbing telecast.
"That is one scary episode. Dysphasia or confused speech can occur from any number of causes. Certainly one has to look at strokes, vascular spasms and TIA’s (Transient Ischemic Attacks) as the most serious causes," Dr. Peter Geldner, founder of The Geldner Center in Chicago, IL, who does not treat Branson, told FOX411. "This can also be due to temporal lobe seizures, heart rhythm disturbances and toxins (including medication and alcohol) among others."
Geldner said it was important Branson be looked over thoroughly.
"It is imperative to seek professional attention after such an episode. The work-up must continue until the most serious causes have been ruled-out," he said.
Dr. Sreekant Cherukuri, another Chicago-based MD, who does not treat Branson, concurred that she "could have suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) which is a temporary interruption in blood flow to a particular area of the brain. In this case, the affected area could have caused Broca's or Wernicke's Aphasia, which result in speaking words that have no meaning."
Cherukuri said that "once the TIA is over (a few minutes to two hours), the patient may be completely normal with no symptoms."
Geldner for one was impressed that Branson was able to perform at such a high professional level under trying circumstances.
"I have great compassion for Ms. Branson. It was obvious that she heard what she was saying and realized that there was a problem," he told FOX411. "She tried to move the story along despite confusion and professional embarrassment. She deserves our admiration and best wishes."
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Hal-9000
People jumble up a string of words every once in a while right! Throw in a little confusion from all that hair spray and it's not too shocking 
