Patient education: Dysarthria (The Basics)

What is dysarthria? — 

This is when a person has trouble forming clear speech.

People with dysarthria might:

●Slur their words or sound like they are drunk

●Speak very softly or in a whisper

●Speak too quickly or too slowly, or mumble

●Sound hoarse, nasal, or breathy when they talk

Dysarthria is different from "aphasia," which is when person has trouble finding the right words to say or trouble understanding what is being said. People who have dysarthria but do not have aphasia can understand language, they just can't speak words clearly. Sometimes, people have both dysarthria and aphasia.

Problems that sometimes happen along with dysarthria are:

●Drooling or trouble controlling their saliva

●Trouble chewing or swallowing

●Drooping of the face to 1 side

What causes dysarthria? — 

It occurs when the muscles that produce clear speech do not work correctly. These can include muscles in the tongue, throat, or lips. This is usually caused by a disease or an injury that damages the brain or the body's nerves or muscles. For example, dysarthria can happen because of these conditions:

●Stroke

●Parkinson disease

●Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ("ALS"), also called Lou Gehrig's disease

●Multiple sclerosis ("MS")

●Muscular dystrophy

Some medicines, including medicines that make people sleepy, can also cause dysarthria.

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. If you develop a new problem with speaking, your doctor or nurse will do an exam and learn about your problem. They will ask what medicines you take and what else was happening when your problem started.

You might also need 1 or more of these tests:

●MRI or CT scan – These are imaging tests that create pictures of the inside of the body. They can show problems in the brain, or in the nerves and muscles that control speech.

●Electromyography ("EMG") or nerve conduction studies ("NCS") – These check how well nerves and muscles are working.

●Blood and urine tests

Will I regain my ability to speak? — 

That depends on the cause of your dysarthria. If your dysarthria was caused by a stroke, you might be able to speak normally again in the future. But if your dysarthria was caused by a nerve or muscle disorder that gets worse over time, it is less likely that you will be able to speak normally again. Still, people with dysarthria can often learn new ways to communicate. There are also technologies that use computers, phones, or other devices to help people speak.

If you develop dysarthria, you will probably work with a speech and language therapist. They can give you exercises to help improve the way you speak. If you also have problems swallowing, they can help you learn ways to improve your swallowing. For instance, they might recommend that you eat and drink only things that are thick and don't have a lot of chunks. That way, you are less likely to choke or have foods go down the wrong way.

More on this topic

Patient education: Aphasia (The Basics)
Patient education: Dysphagia (The Basics)
Patient education: Recovery after stroke (The Basics)
Patient education: Taking care of someone after a stroke (The Basics)
Patient education: Stroke rehabilitation exercises (The Basics)
Patient education: Parkinson disease (The Basics)
Patient education: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (The Basics)
Patient education: Multiple sclerosis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Muscular dystrophy (The Basics)
Patient education: Myasthenia gravis (The Basics)

Patient education: Parkinson disease treatment options — education, support, and therapy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Overview of muscular dystrophies (Beyond the Basics)