Dysarthria results from impaired movement of the muscles used for speech production, including the lips, tongue, vocal folds, and/or diaphragm. The type and severity of dysarthria depend on which area of the nervous system is affected.
A person with dysarthria may exhibit one or more of the following speech characteristics:
- 鈥淪lurred,鈥� 鈥渃hoppy,鈥� or 鈥渕umbled鈥� speech that may be difficult to understand
- Slow rate of speech
- Rapid rate of speech with a 鈥渕umbling鈥� quality
- Limited tongue, lip, and jaw movement
- Abnormal pitch and rhythm when speaking
- Changes in voice quality, such as hoarse or breathy voice or speech that sounds 鈥渘asal鈥� or 鈥渟tuffy鈥�
Treatment
For individuals with dysarthria, treatment focuses on facilitating the efficiency, effectiveness, and naturalness of communication (Rosenbek & LaPointe, 1985; Yorkston et al., 2010, as cited in American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.).
Additional Resource
Reference
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Dysarthria in Adults. (Practice Portal). Retrieved November 15, 2021, from