Dysarthria is the term used to describe difficulty with speaking due to weakness; paralysis of the facial muscles; lack of coordination; and/or lack of breath support. Dysarthria can be caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor and some diseases such as Parkinsons, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Dysarthria may also result from problems present at birth, such as cerebral palsy, that affect facial muscles.

The type and severity of dysarthria varies from person to person. It can range from mild changes which are barely noticeable to complete inability to speak. The problems producing clear speech are generally because of weakness, lack of coordination, or paralysis of the muscles or vocal cords involved in speech. Typical difficulties include:
• Having enough breath support to speak
• Speech that sounds harsh or breathy, like having a cold or laryngitis
• Controlling the rhythm and rate so that speech is slurred or too fast or too slow
• Weakness of lips, tongue and cheeks causing speech to sound slurred.

Helpful Tips
• Hold conversations in a quiet environment
• If voice is soft, try speaking more slowly and loudly
• Try speaking in short sentences and using pauses between phrases
• Use exaggerated or over-pronounciation of words
• Watch the speaker’s face, lips and gestures for additional visual information
• Allow adequate time for response.
• Confirm understanding by repeating information and ask for repetition when necessary.

There are many types of dysarthria that affect speech in different ways. For more information and the best ways to communicate, contact a speech-language pathologist.

Reference
Motor Speech Disorders – Substrates, Differential Diagnoses and Management, 2nd edition. St.Louis, MO:Elsever Mosby, 2005