14 Main Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy

2. Photophobia

Photophobia means you become sensitive to light and feel discomfort or pain when exposed to normal indoor lighting, sunlight, or screens. Bell’s palsy can make it hard to fully close one eye, which leaves it exposed to light for longer periods and increasing irritation.

You may notice squinting, tearing, or a burning feeling in the affected eye. Some people avoid bright spaces or struggle with screens and fluorescent lights. You may also experience blurred vision caused by dryness and headaches triggered by light exposure.

Dryness often plays a key role, as a dry eye becomes more sensitive to glare and brightness. If light bothers you, you might turn away from windows or dim lights at home. These changes often improve as facial nerve function returns and you regain control of your eyelid.

3. Blurred Vision

You may notice blurred vision when Bell’s palsy affects your ability to blink or fully close one eye. The facial nerve controls the muscles that shut your eyelid, and when this nerve becomes weak, your eye may stay partly open, which causes dryness and uneven tear distribution. Without enough moisture, your vision can look hazy or out of focus, especially in bright light or windy areas.

You may also feel irritation, burning, or a gritty feeling in the eye, which makes it hard to read, drive, or use screens for long periods. Common reasons for blurred vision with Bell’s palsy include incomplete eyelid closure, dryness, reduced blinking, and excess tearing that does not protect the eye well.

Some people also notice sensitivity to light or trouble judging depth if one eye does not work as clearly as before. Health professionals may suggest lubricating eye drops, ointments, protective eyewear, or taping the eyelid closed during sleep to prevent injury.

4. Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye)

Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is an inflammation of the thin clear layer that covers the white part of your eye and lines your eyelids. When you have Bell’s palsy, you may not close one eye fully, which leaves it dry and more open to irritation or infection.

You may notice redness in the white of your eye, a gritty or itchy feeling, and sometimes watery or thick discharge that can dry on your lashes and make your eyelids stick together. Your eye may also feel sore, swollen, or more sensitive to light, which can make daily tasks uncomfortable.

Pinkeye can result from a viral or bacterial infection, allergies, or irritation. Infectious forms spread easily through hand contact or shared items, while allergic conjunctivitis is not contagious but may affect both eyes. With Bell’s palsy, reduced blinking and trouble closing your eye increase dryness, which can lead to irritation and raise the risk of conjunctivitis.

5. Changes in Taste

You may notice that food tastes different or weaker on one side of your tongue, sometimes with a metallic or bitter taste. Bell’s palsy affects the facial nerve, which carries taste signals from the front two-thirds of your tongue to your brain, and when it becomes swollen or irritated, those signals may not travel properly.

You might find that sweet, salty, or sour foods seem dull, or you may lose taste completely on one side, which makes meals less enjoyable and affects your appetite. You may also notice that flavors seem uneven, and drinks may not taste the same as they did before.

Taste problems often happen along with other symptoms on the same side of your face, and you may also have dry mouth or trouble controlling saliva. For many people, your sense of taste improves as the facial nerve heals, usually beginning within a few weeks and continuing over several months.

6. Twitching Facial Muscles

You may notice small, quick movements in your face that you cannot control, often feeling like brief spasms or fluttering under the skin. These movements usually start near the mouth, eye, or cheek and often affect one side of your face. They can appear suddenly and last only a few seconds.

Bell’s palsy affects the facial nerve, which controls the muscles you use to smile, blink, and frown. When this nerve becomes swollen or irritated, it can send mixed signals to your muscles and cause them to tighten or jerk without warning.

You might feel the twitching more when you are tired or stressed, or when you try to move your face. The movement is not painful for most people, but it can feel strange or uncomfortable. Twitching may decrease as the nerve heals, and sometimes it changes into muscle weakness or drooping on the same side of your face.

7. Dull Pain Behind the Ear

You may feel a dull, aching pain behind one ear before or during the start of Bell’s palsy, often on the same side as the facial weakness. The discomfort usually feels deep and steady rather than sharp, and some people describe it as pressure or soreness that spreads from behind the ear to the jaw or side of the head.

This symptom happens because the facial nerve runs through a narrow area near your ear. When it becomes inflamed or swollen, it can irritate the surrounding tissues and create a deep, hard-to-pinpoint aching sensation in that area.

You might also notice tenderness when you touch the area behind your ear, and sometimes the pain appears before facial drooping or weakness. If the pain continues or worsens, a healthcare provider may suggest treatment such as anti-inflammatory medication or a short course of corticosteroids to reduce nerve swelling.

8. Adult Speech Impairment

When Bell’s palsy affects one side of your face, it can change the way you speak. The facial nerve controls the muscles in your lips, cheeks, and mouth, so if these muscles weaken or become paralyzed, your speech may sound slurred or unclear.

You may struggle to pronounce certain sounds, especially letters like “p,” “b,” and “m,” since these require strong lip movement. Weakness in your cheek can trap food and air inside your mouth, which makes speech feel awkward or uneven, and you might need to speak more slowly to be understood.

Drooping at the corner of your mouth may cause drooling while you talk, and dry mouth can affect how clearly you form words. In most cases, speech problems improve as the facial nerve heals, and targeted exercises can help retrain your facial muscles and improve clarity if speech remains difficult.

9. Loss of Feeling on One Side of the Face

You may notice a strange numb feeling on one side of your face, which can feel heavy, dull, or slightly tingly. This change often happens on the same side where you have weakness or drooping. Bell’s palsy mainly affects the facial nerve, which controls movement, but swelling around it can still make your face feel different.

You might feel less sensitivity when you touch your cheek, lips, or forehead. Some people describe it as a “thick” or “puffy” feeling, while others say their skin feels tight or mildly numb. The change in feeling can make everyday tasks harder, such as shaving, applying makeup, or brushing your teeth.

You may also notice that food or drink feels unusual on the affected side of your mouth, and this can happen along with changes in taste. In most cases, this symptom improves as the nerve heals and movement returns.

10. Difficulty Eating and Drinking

You may find it hard to eat or drink when Bell’s palsy weakens one side of your face, since the muscles in your lips, cheek, and tongue help you chew and move food. When these muscles do not work well, food can collect inside your mouth.

You might notice that food gets stuck between your teeth and cheeks, liquids spill from one side of your mouth, you drool without meaning to, or chewing takes much longer than usual. Weak lip muscles can make it hard to keep food and drinks inside your mouth, and you may need to use your hand to support your lip while eating.

Some people switch to softer foods because they are easier to chew and swallow. Taste changes and dry mouth can also affect how you eat, which lowers your appetite and makes food feel sticky or hard to move. These problems often improve as your facial strength returns.

11. Sensitivity to Sound

Normal sounds may suddenly seem louder on the affected side of your face, a symptom known as sound sensitivity. Bell’s palsy affects the facial nerve, which controls a small muscle in your ear that softens loud noises. When this nerve does not work well, the muscle cannot tighten, making everyday sounds seem sharp or harsh.

You might feel discomfort with common noises such as running water, dishes clattering, traffic sounds, or people talking at a normal volume. The change usually affects the same side as your facial weakness. One ear may seem more sensitive than the other, and you may also notice ear pain or pressure at the same time.

This symptom can make busy places hard to tolerate, so you may prefer quiet rooms and lower sound levels until the nerve recovers. You might avoid crowded events, lower the volume on devices, or use ear protection to reduce discomfort during daily activities.

12. Headache

You may notice a headache before or soon after facial weakness begins, often starting on the same side as the affected face. The pain can feel dull, steady, or mildly throbbing, and may appear a few hours before other symptoms.

It may also come with pain around your jaw or behind your ear, which signifies that the facial nerve is irritated or swollen. The pain is usually mild to moderate, and you might also feel pressure around your temple or the back of your head.

Common features include pain on one side of the head and discomfort that worsens when you move your facial muscles. Headache linked to Bell’s palsy is different from a stroke-related headache. Bell’s palsy develops over hours to days, while stroke symptoms often appear suddenly and may include trouble speaking or lifting both arms.

13. Herpes Simplex

Herpes simplex is a common virus that often causes cold sores around your mouth, and research suggests it may play a role in Bell’s palsy. When the virus becomes active, it can cause swelling in the facial nerve, which controls the muscles on one side of your face. If this nerve swells inside the narrow bone canal around it, pressure can build up and lead to weakness or paralysis.

You may not notice any cold sores when Bell’s palsy begins, as the virus can reactivate quietly in your body. Even without visible blisters, it may still irritate the nerve. Signs that point to a viral trigger include sudden facial weakness over hours to a day, pain around or behind your ear, changes in taste, and increased tearing or dry eye.

Doctors often treat Bell’s palsy with corticosteroids to reduce nerve swelling, and in some cases may also use antiviral medications. Stress, illness, or a weakened immune system may increase the risk of herpes simplex reactivation, which helps explain why Bell’s palsy often appears suddenly and without warning.

14. Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. People living in or visiting wooded or grassy areas face a higher risk. Early signs often include fever, headache, tiredness, and a round skin rash that slowly expands.

This infection can affect your nervous system. When that happens, you may notice facial weakness or drooping that looks like Bell’s palsy. In some cases, Lyme disease causes paralysis on one or both sides of your face.

You may also have other symptoms that do not usually appear with Bell’s palsy alone. These can include stiff neck, severe headache, joint pain and swelling, irregular heartbeat, and numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.

Doctors often use blood tests and your symptom history to check for Lyme disease. If they suspect this infection, they prescribe antibiotics. Early treatment lowers the risk of long-term problems that can affect your joints, heart, or nerves.