Dysarthria is a condition in which you have difficulty saying words because of problems with the muscles that help you talk.
Causes of Dysarthria
In a person with dysarthria, a nerve, brain, or muscle disorder makes it difficult to use or control the muscles of the mouth, tongue, larynx, or vocal cords.
The muscles may be weak or completely paralyzed. Or, it may be hard for the muscles to work together.
Dysarthria may be the result of brain damage due to:
- Brain injury
- Brain tumor
- Disease that causes the brain to lose its function (degenerative brain disease)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson disease
Dysarthria may result from damage to the nerves that supply the muscles that help you talk, or to the muscles themselves from:
- Face or neck trauma
- Surgery for head and neck cancer, such as partial or total removal of the tongue or voice box
Dysarthria may be caused by diseases that affect nerves and muscles (neuromuscular diseases):
Other causes may include:
- Alcohol intoxication
- Poorly fitting dentures
- Side effects of medications that act on the central nervous system, such as narcotics, phenytoin, or carbamazepine
Depending on its cause, dysarthria may develop slowly or occur suddenly.
People with dysarthria have trouble making certain sounds or words.
Their speech is poorly pronounced (such as slurring), and the rhythm or speed of their speech changes. Other symptoms include:
- Sounding as though they are mumbling
- Speaking softly or in a whisper
- Speaking in a nasal or stuffy, hoarse, strained, or breathy voice
A person with dysarthria may also drool and have problems chewing or swallowing. It may be difficult to move the lips, tongue, or jaw.
Tests and Exams
The health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Family and friends may need to help with the medical history.
A procedure called laryngoscopy may be done. During this procedure, a flexible viewing tube called a laryngoscope is placed in the mouth and throat to view the voice box.
Tests that may be done if the cause of the dysarthria is unknown include:
- Blood tests for toxins or vitamin levels
- Imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan of the brain or neck
- Nerve conduction studies and electromyogram to check the electrical function of the nerves or muscles
- Swallowing study, which may include x-rays and drinking a special liquid
Treatment of Dysarthria
You may need to be referred to a speech and language therapist for testing and treatment. Special skills you may learn include:
- Safe chewing or swallowing techniques, if needed
- To avoid conversations when you are tired
- To repeat sounds over and over again so you can learn mouth movements
- To speak slowly, use a louder voice, and pause to make sure other people understand
- What to do when you feel frustrated while speaking
You can use many different devices or techniques to help with speech, such as:
- Computers to type out words
- Flip cards with words or symbols
- Special computer programs that allow you to create spoken words by typing words or clicking on symbols
Surgery may help people with dysarthria.
Depending on the cause of dysarthria, symptoms may improve, stay the same, or get worse slowly or quickly.
- Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig disease) eventually lose the ability to speak.
- Few people with Parkinson disease or multiple sclerosis lose the ability to speak.
- Dysarthria caused by medication 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.
When to Contact a Health Professional
Call your health care provider if you have:
- Chest pain, chills, fever, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of pneumonia
- Coughing or choking
- Difficulty speaking to or communicating with other people
- Feelings of sadness or depression
Kirshner HS. Language and speech disorders: motor speech disorders: dysarthria and apraxia of speech. In: Daroff RB, Fenichel GM, Jankovic J. Mazziotta JC, eds. Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2012:chap 12B.
Kortte JH, Palmer JB. Speech and language disorders. In: Frontera WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr., eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2014:chap 154.
Mahler LA, Ramig LO. Intensive treatment of dysarthria secondary to stroke. Clin Linguist Phon. 2012;26:681-694.
|Review Date: 9/3/2014
Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.