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Dysarthria

​​​Dysarthria is a speech disorder often experienced as slurred speech​.​

Dysarthria
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Speech is the verbal means to communicate. Weakness in the muscles that enable one to speak results in slurred speech or dysarthria.

What is dysarthria?
Dysarthria is a form of speech diff​iculty (e.g. slurred speech). It results from weakness, tension and/or slowed movement in muscles involved in speaking. Dysarthria is usually caused by stroke or other brain injury.

Four key parts of the body involved in producing speech are:

  • ​Lungs - to provide sufficient air which  moves upwards towards the throat
  • Vocal cords - to produce sound which moves upwards towards the articulators
  • Articulators (lips, tongue, teeth) - to shape the sound into speech sounds (e.g. “p” in papaya)
  • Palate - to direct the sound towards the nose for sounds like “m” and towards the mouth for sounds like “p”

If you or a family member has speech difficulties, speak to your doctor to check if a referral to a Speech Therapist is required.

Speech Therapists are healthcare professionals trained to manage swallowing and communication problems. They can help in the following ways:

  • Assessing and identifying the type and severity of dysarthria
  • Provide appropriate compensatory strategies to improve patient’s interaction with listener
  • Provide appropriate strategies to improve listener’s interaction with patient
  • Teach patients self-practice to improve intelligibility (e.g. speech drills, exercises for the lips and tongue)
  • Rehabilitation of speech function through individual or group therapy sessions
  • Goal setting with patients and families

Patients and communication partners of dysarthria should learn the strategies to improve communication. Being the communication partner, you can also encourage person with dysarthria to practice and use strategies.

​1. For persons with dysarthria:
  • Speak louder
  • Speak slower
  • Overarticulate (exaggerate the movements of your mouth when speaking)
  • Use all modes of communication (speaking, writing, gesturing)
2. For communication partners:
  • ​Give the person with dysarthria time to articulate clearly
  • Request for clarification (e.g. asking the person to repeat)
  • Engage the person with dysarthria in speaking at a less noisy environment
  • Pay close attention to what the person with dysarthria is saying
  • Use all modes of communication (speaking, writing, gesturing)

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​Contributed​ by Speech Therapy, Rehabilitation, Allied Health Services​