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.
