Dysarthria means difficulty speaking. It can be caused by brain damage or by brain changes occurring in some conditions affecting the nervous system, or related to ageing. It can affect people of all ages. If dysarthria occurs suddenly, call 999, it may be being caused by a stroke.
Symptoms of dysarthria
A personwith dysarthria may have:
- slurred, nasal-sounding or breathy speech
- a strained and hoarse voice
- excessively loud or quiet speech
- problems speaking in a regular rhythm, with frequent hesitations
- "gurgly" or monotone speech
- difficulty with tongue and lip movements
- difficulty swallowing(dysphagia), which may lead to constant drooling
- only be able to produce short phrases, single words or no intelligible speech at all
Dysarthria doesn't directly relate to intelligence or understanding, buta person with the condition may also have problems in these areas. Speech problems can alsoaffect:
- social interaction
- employment
- education
If you or your childhas dysarthria, you may find it helpful to see a speech and language therapist (SLT). Ask your GP about your nearest speech and language therapy clinic.
Related conditions
There are a number of conditions which may be related to dysarthria, including:
- dysphagia– difficulty swallowing
- dysphasia oraphasia– language difficulties, which could be difficulty understanding language (receptive dysphasia) or expressing yourself (expressive dysphasia)
- dyspraxiaandataxia– problems with physical co-ordination, which can sometimes affect the movements needed for speech
Causes ofdysarthria
The muscles used for speech are controlled by the brain and nervous system. Dysarthria can develop if either of theseis damaged in some way.
Dysarthria can either be:
- developmental – when it occursas a result of brain damage before or during birth, such as incerebral palsy
- acquired– when itoccursasthe result of brain changes later in life, such as damage caused by astroke,head injuryorbrain tumour, or a progressive condition such asParkinson's diseaseormotor neurone disease
Dysarthria in children is usually developmental, while dysarthria in adults is often acquired, although both types can affect people of any age.
Whether dysarthria will improve with speech and language therapy depends on the cause and the extent of the brain damage or dysfunction. Some causes stay stable, while others may worsen over time.
An SLT can carry out an assessment to work out the extent of the speech problem. They may ask you or your childto:
- make different sounds
- talkabout a familiar topic
- count numbers or recite days of the week
- read a passage aloud
Thetherapist may also want to examine the movement of the muscles in the mouth and voice box (larynx),and may wish to make a recording.
Treating dysarthria
If someone you know develops dysarthria suddenly, you need to telephone 999 immediately.
It could be something very serious, such as a stroke.
An SLT can help to treat dysarthria. They willtry to improve your, or your child's, ability to talk. They'll help you find different ways of communicating, and will assist you or your family in adapting toyour particular situation.
They may recommend:
- strategies to improve speech, such as slowing speech down
- exercises to improve the volume or clarity of speech
- assistive devices,such as a simple alphabet board, an amplifier,or a computerised voice output system
Some SLT’s may be able to carry out a specialist assessment ofcommunication aids,including computerised voice output systems.
There's no guarantee that therapy can improve the speech of everyone with dysarthria.
Communication tips
The following advice may help you communicate more effectively if you've got dysarthria or if you're communicating with someone with the condition.
For people with dysarthria
If you have dysarthria, you may find it helpful to:
- take a breath before you start speaking
- put extra effort into stressing key words
- speak slowly, saying one word at a time if necessary
- leave a clear space between each word
- make sure you're in the same room as the person you're talking to and face them
- attract the listener's attention before you begin talking
- keep sentences short and avoid long conversations if you feel tired
- reduce background noise–for example, switch off the TV or radio
- repeat yourself if needed
For family, friends and carers
If you're speaking to a person with dysarthria, you may find the following advice helpful:
- reduce distractions and background noise when you're having a conversation
- look at the person as they talk
- after speaking, allow them plenty of time to respond– if theyfeel rushed or pressured to speak, they may become anxious, which can affect their ability to communicate
- be careful aboutfinishing their sentences or correcting any errors in their languageas this may cause frustration
- if you don't understandwhat they'retrying to communicate, don't pretend you understand as this can be patronising – it's always best to be honest
- if you need to clarify what they're saying asking yes/no questions or try paraphrasing, for example, say:"Did you ask me if I'd done the shopping?"
More useful links
- How to use your health services
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information seeterms and conditions.
FAQs
Dysarthria means difficulty speaking. It can be caused by brain damage or by brain changes occurring in some conditions affecting the nervous system, or related to ageing. It can affect people of all ages. If dysarthria occurs suddenly, call 999, it may be being caused by a stroke.
How do you rule out dysarthria? ›
Dysarthria
- Imaging tests. Imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, create detailed images of your brain, head and neck that may help identify the cause of your speech problem.
- Brain and nerve studies. ...
- Blood and urine tests. ...
- Lumbar puncture (spinal tap). ...
- Brain biopsy. ...
- Neuropsychological tests.
Signs of Dysarthria
You "slur" or "mumble" when you talk. You talk too slowly or too fast. You talk to softly or too loudly. You have problems moving your tongue, lips, and jaw.
Why do I feel like I can't speak properly? ›
Dysarthria is where you have 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.
Can dysarthria get better? ›
Dysarthria caused by medicines or poorly fitting dentures can be reversed. Dysarthria caused by a stroke or brain injury will not get worse, and may improve. Dysarthria after surgery to the tongue or voice box should not get worse, and may improve with therapy.
What autoimmune disease causes dysarthria? ›
Myasthenia gravis (weakness and rapid fatigue of the muscles under voluntary control) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (progressive degeneration of the neuromuscular cells) Guillain-Barre syndrome (an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your nerves)
What are the confirmatory signs of dysarthria? ›
Physical signs in the articulatory structures (e.g., head, jaw, lip, tongue) may include the following:
- muscle wasting.
- abnormal muscle tone at rest.
- fasciculations.
- tremors.
- weakness.
- involuntary movements.
- abnormal reflexes (e.g., hypo- or hyperactive gag reflex, jaw jerk, sucking or snout reflexes)
Common causes of dysarthria include nervous system disorders and conditions that cause facial paralysis or tongue or throat muscle weakness. Certain medications also can cause dysarthria.
What is the most common feature of dysarthria? ›
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder where damage to your nervous system causes the muscles that produce speech to become paralyzed or weakened. The damage may make it difficult to control your tongue or voice box, causing you to slur words. Speech therapy can help you communicate more effectively.
Can dysarthria come and go? ›
Some causes of dysarthria, such as certain medications, may cause the condition to come and go if the patient goes back and forth on their use of the medicine.
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder in which muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury.
What causes inability to find words when speaking? ›
The most common cause of aphasia is brain damage resulting from a stroke — the blockage or rupture of a blood vessel in the brain. Loss of blood to the brain leads to brain cell death or damage in areas that control language.
Why do I forget words when speaking? ›
When this happens, language scientists use the terms “anomia” or “anomic aphasia” to describe the condition, which can be associated with brain damage due to stroke, tumours, head injury or dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.
Why am I suddenly struggling to speak? ›
If you experience a sudden onset of impaired speech, seek medical attention right away. It might be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a stroke. If you develop impaired speech more gradually, make an appointment with your doctor. It may be a sign of an underlying health condition.
Why do I feel like I can barely talk? ›
Aphasia is a communication disorder that makes it hard to use words. It can affect your speech, writing, and ability to understand language. Aphasia results from damage or injury to parts of the brain that control language. It's more common in older adults, particularly those who've had a stroke.
What is dysarthria vs aphasia? ›
Aphasia and dysarthria are disorders that can affect speech. Aphasia occurs due to brain damage that affects the ability to express and understand speech. Dysarthria, on the other hand, is a condition that affects the muscles necessary for speech. It does not affect the ability to understand language.
Does dysarthria affect fluency? ›
Dysarthria can make it hard to produce clear speech. It can also affect the loudness, pitch, and rhythm of speech. A person with dysarthria may have difficulty producing speech sounds, may speak slowly or with an abnormal rhythm, or may slur their words. Dysarthria depends on the cause and severity of the condition.
What disease is difficulty in speech? ›
Dysarthria often causes slurred or slow speech that can be difficult to understand. Common causes of dysarthria include nervous system disorders and conditions that cause facial paralysis or tongue or throat muscle weakness. Certain medications also can cause dysarthria.
What is the medical term for not being able to speak? ›
Aphasia is a language disorder that affects how you communicate. It's caused by damage in the area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension. Aphasia leaves a person unable to communicate effectively with others. A person with aphasia may have trouble understanding, speaking, reading, or writing.
