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Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder that results from neurological injury to the motor component of the motor-speech system. It is characterized by difficulties with the muscles used for speech, often resulting in speech that is slurred, slow, or difficult to understand
Dysarthria affects the physical production of speech. It's not a language disorder (like aphasia), where the difficulty lies in understanding or formulating words. People with dysarthria know what they want to say, but the muscles involved in speaking don't work correctly. Phonemes are the individual sounds that make up words. In dysarthria, the muscles may be weak, move slowly, or not move in a coordinated way, leading to imprecise production of these sounds.
The underlying cause of dysarthria is damage to the nervous system. This damage can occur in various parts of the brain, cranial nerves, or muscles involved in speech.
Speaking involves the coordinated action of many muscles, including those in the: face, lips, tongue, jaw, throat (larynx/vocal cords), respiratory system (for breath support)
Common Symptoms of Dysarthria:
Slurred speech
Slow rate of speech
Speaking too quietly (hypophonia), too loudly, or difficulty controlling the volume of speech
Rapid speech that is difficult to understand
Nasal, raspy, or strained voice quality
Uneven speech rhythm
Monotone voice
Using short phrases or speaking in short bursts
Hesitating a lot when talking
Causes of Dysarthria:
Dysarthria is usually caused by conditions that damage the brain or affect the nervous system. These can include:
Stroke: A common cause, especially in adults.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Head injuries can damage areas of the brain controlling speech.
Neurological Diseases:
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Motor Neurone Disease
Cerebral palsy
Huntington's disease
Muscular dystrophy
Myasthenia gravis
Brain Tumors: Growths in the brain can affect motor control for speech.
Infections: Certain infections of the brain or nervous system.
Toxic Exposure: Heavy metal poisoning or drug/alcohol intoxication.
Genetic Conditions: Some genetic disorders can lead to dysarthria.
Medications: Certain medications, like some sedatives or epilepsy drugs, can have dysarthria as a side effect.
Types of Dysarthria:
There are different types of dysarthria, classified based on the location of the neurological damage and the resulting speech characteristics. Some main types include:
Ataxic Dysarthria: Problems with coordination (often sounds slurred and irregular).
Flaccid Dysarthria: Weakness or paralysis of speech muscles (often sounds breathy, nasal, and weak).
Hypokinetic Dysarthria: Reduced movement (often associated with Parkinson's disease, resulting in quiet, monotone, and sometimes rapid speech).
Hyperkinetic Dysarthria: Involuntary movements (can result in unpredictable speech with changes in rate, rhythm, and volume).
Mixed Dysarthria: A combination of two or more of the above types (common in conditions like ALS and multiple sclerosis).
Spastic Dysarthria: Increased muscle tone and stiffness (often sounds strained, harsh, and slow).
Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron Dysarthria: A milder form resulting from damage to one side of the brain.
Video from the first DysarthriaAwarenessDay!
DAD2024 video.mp4
In comparison to other speech and language difficulties such as aphasia, few people are aware of the condition, yet it can have a significant impact on people's lives. Dysarthria Awareness Day aims to raise awareness and knowledge of the speech difficulty. The Clients, Students and Staff at the HCS Dysarthria Clinic have worked together to create a range of resources to support others who would like to join campaign. Please access the resources below.
Resources available for download:
Summary - what is dysarthria?
For more information about Dysarthria Awareness Day 2026 please contact Catherine Tattersall or Caroline Haw or Pasquale Balzan.
Please visit our Instagram: @dysarthriaawarenessday
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