What is dysarthria?

Dysarthria (pronounced "dis-AR-three-uh") is a motor speech condition that causes difficulty in word formation and pronunciation. Motor speech disorders occur when injury to your nerve system prevents you from fully controlling portions of your body that control speech, such as your tongue, voice box (larynx), and jaw. Dysarthria makes it difficult to communicate in a way that others can comprehend.

Dysarthria can be acquired or developed.

Developmental dysarthria is caused by brain injury at birth or throughout the fetal development. For example, cerebral palsy may result in dysarthria. It is prevalent among children.

Dysarthria is caused by brain impairment that develops later in life. Dysarthria can be caused by a stroke, a brain tumour, or Parkinson's disease. Adults frequently develop dysarthria.

People with dysarthria can understand language. They understand what they want to say and how to communicate it. It's only that having weak muscles makes speaking harder.

What are the symptoms of dysarthria?

Dysarthria is characterized by difficulty speaking in a way that others can comprehend. You may find it difficult to move your lips, tongue, or jaw in a way that produces coherent speech.

Dysarthria symptoms include:

• When you speak, you may slur your words or mumble.
• Speak too quickly or too slowly.
• Speak too quietly or too loudly.
• It sounds raspy, harsh, strained, breathy, nasal, robotic, or monotonous.
• Instead of speaking in entire phrases, employ short, choppy bursts with several pauses.
• Dysphagia, or a lack of muscular control, can make swallowing difficult.

What causes dysarthria?

Dysarthria develops when your nervous system's portions that govern the muscles that allow you to talk become damaged. This includes your facial, throat, and breathing muscles. Dysarthria can be caused by a variety of factors, including injuries, illnesses, and neuromuscular problems.

Common causes include:

• Dementia.
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease).
• Huntington's Disease.
• Brain tumors.
• Lyme Disease.
• Stroke.
• Cerebral palsy.
• Traumatic brain injuries.
• Trauma to the face or mouth.
• Parkinson’s disease.
• Multiple Sclerosis.
• Muscular Dystrophy.
• Myasthenia Gravis.
• Trauma to the head, neck, tongue, or vocal box.

Certain medications, such as sedatives and antiseizure meds, can occasionally cause dysarthria-like symptoms.

What are the complications of dysarthria?

Speech difficulties often create social stressors. Trouble communicating and being understood causes strain at work, school, and in your general relationships. This stress may then lead to mental health disorders such as depression.

Receiving treatments that can increase your capacity to communicate and form meaningful relationships with others is critical.

How is dysarthria diagnosed?

Your health care practitioner will obtain your medical history and do a physical checkup. A speech language pathologist's (SLP) evaluation could help evaluate the severity of dysarthria. Your ability to control your breathing and speak clearly will be tested. Their test will also determine whether your lips, tongue, or cheeks can move easily.

Some of the questions they pose are:

• Push your tongue out.
• Smile, pout your lips, and lick them.
• Count or speak the alphabet aloud.
• Read one paragraph.
• Repeat sounds, words, and sentences while engaging in conversation.

What tests might I need to diagnose dysarthria?

Additional tests may include:

• MRI or CT scans of your brain, head, and neck to look for any abnormalities that could impair your speech.
• An electroencephalogram (EEG) is used to detect abnormalities in your brain activity that are associated to dysarthria.
• Electromyography measures the electrical function of your muscles and nerves.
• Blood or urine testing to determine whether an infection or inflammation is causing the speech issue.
• Lumbar puncture to detect whether infection or tumor could be causing the problem.

Dysarthria can be diagnosed by your doctor via a modified barium swallow study or a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS); swallowing problems frequently accompany dysarthria.

How is dysarthria treated?

The average person with dysarthria finds speech therapy helpful for improving communication. If desired, a speech-language pathologist can work with your family and loved ones to help them communicate more effectively with you.

Speech therapy can help you learn the following skills:

• Tongue, lip, and jaw strengthening exercises.
• How to speak more loudly: how to take fuller breaths prior to speaking.
• Slowing down your voice and using certain muscles to generate sounds and words are examples of strategies for speaking more clearly.
• Nonverbal communication strategies include gestures and writing.

If you have severe dysarthria, you may require a gadget to communicate with others. These devices may feature a letter or picture board, as well as a customized computer with a keyboard and message display.

Can dysarthria be prevented?

Although not all causes of dysarthria are preventable, you can take steps to reduce your risk of some, such as trauma or stroke. A healthy diet, for example, can lower your risk of stroke-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.

Can you recover from dysarthria?

It depends on what is causing your dysarthria. If dysarthria is caused by a drug side effect, discontinuing the prescription usually resolves the condition. Dysarthria caused by a chronic neuromuscular illness, stroke, or trauma may be irreversible. Even so, speech therapy can help you enhance your communication skills.

Speech therapy can help you use your speech muscles more effectively while also providing tools for nonverbal communication.

What are some tips for talking with dysarthria?

If you have dysarthria:

• Use a start word. When starting conversations, let listeners know what you're talking about by saying it first. For instance, when you start discussing which movie you want to watch, lead with "movie".
• Speak slowly and at a reasonable loudness. It may help to articulate your words slowly so that the listeners understand. Pauses and shorter sentences may help listeners understand what your words mean.
• Avoid chatting while you're fatigued. Many persons with dysarthria struggle to talk when they are exhausted.
• Check to see if your listeners understand. It is a good idea to check in with listeners periodically to ensure they are following what you are saying. This allows you to avoid repeating what you've already said.
• Use nonverbal communication as needed. If speaking is too exhausting, inform your communication partner and choose to write, draw, or postpone the session.

What tips can others use to talk to me?

A speech-language pathologist can suggest tips to help others communicate with you. For example, loved ones can:

• Minimize distractions/noise, such as turning off the radio or TV.
• Listen carefully when you are speaking.
• Speak to you in a quiet room with good lighting.
• To facilitate communication, ask yes/no questions.
• Let you know if they do not understand what you are saying.
• Encourage you to write or point if you are having trouble.
• Repeat what they understood so you don't have to start from scratch.

When should I see my doctor about dysarthria?

If speaking gets difficult, consult your physician. If you have choking, coughing fits, or pneumonia, seek medical assistance right once.

When should I go to the ER?

Some causes of dysarthria, such as stroke, need an emergency hospital visit. If a person's symptoms appear to be a stroke, take them to the ER right away.

Symptoms include:

• Facial weakness or drooping on one side.
• Can't raise both arms.
• Confusion and irritability.
• Lack of coordination.
• Slurred speech.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

• What is causing dysarthria?
• What options for treatment are there?
• How can I make my speech better?
• What can I expect from speech therapy?
• Should I use a communication device?

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