Dysarthria is having difficulty speaking because the muscles you use for speech are weak. It can be caused by conditions that damage your brain or nerves and some medicines. Speech and language therapy can help.
Slurred speech or difficulty speaking which is medically referred to as dysarthria, occurs when a person's words become unclear or hard to comprehend.
This typically arises due to issues with the muscles involved in speaking, resulting in slow, slurred, or even jumbled speech.
In dysarthria or slurred speech, you may have difficulty moving the muscles in your mouth, face, or upper airways that control speech. Conditions that can lead to dysarthria include:
Certain medications, such as certain sedatives and anti-epileptic drugs, can also cause dysarthria.
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Get A Second OpinionThe primary symptom of this is difficulty speaking clearly. Other associated symptoms may include:
Difficulty speaking of the communication problems caused by dysarthria, complications can include:
If they suspect that you have dysarthria, your doctor may refer you to a speech-language pathologist. This specialist may use several exams and tests to assess the severity and diagnose the cause of your dysarthria.
For example, they will assess how you speak and move your lips, tongue, and facial muscles. They can also assess aspects of your voice quality and breathing.
After your initial examination, your doctor may order one or more of the following tests: study of swallowing.
Treatment will depend on the cause of your dysarthria, the type, and your signs. Your speech might improve after treating the cause.
If you still have dysarthria, see a speech-language pathologist who will teach you:
Your therapist will also give you tips to help you communicate, such as:
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Book an AppointmentDysarthria can be a sign of a serious illness. See your doctor if you have sudden or unexplained changes in your ability to speak.
Many conditions can cause dysarthria, so it's difficult to prevent it. But you can lower your risk of dysarthria by adopting a healthy lifestyle that lowers your risk of stroke. For example:
Slurred speech or mumbled speech can occur due to muscle weakness, nerve damage, or disruptions in brain signals that control speech production.
Yes, speech therapy is often recommended to improve speech clarity and control in individuals experiencing slurred speech.
Garbled speech indicates difficulty controlling facial, mouth, or respiratory muscles, often due to brain injury or neurological conditions like stroke, affecting normal sound production (dysarthria).
Yes, certain medications, particularly those affecting the central nervous system or muscles, can cause side effects like slurred speech.
Aphasia is characterized by difficulties in understanding others or expressing thoughts. It doesn't stem from any issues with the functioning of your speaking muscles, unlike dysarthria.
Apraxia is a distinct motor speech condition. In apraxia, individuals have normal muscle function but struggle with voluntary movements, such as speaking. The problem lies in transmitting the message from the brain to the muscles,sem r instructing them to move.
Similar to dysarthria, dysphagia involves difficulties with muscle control. However, while dysarthria affects speech, dysphagia affects swallowing. Dysphagia can sometimes be a symptom of dysarthria.
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