Do I Have Dysarthria?

Do you have slurred, mumbled, or choppy speech?

Do you speak slowly?

Do you have a rapid speech that is difficult to understand?

Do you find it difficult to speak louder than a whisper or do you speak too loud?

Do you have nasal, raspy or strained voice?

Do you have uneven or abnormal speech rhythm?

Do you have an uneven speech volume?

Do you have a monotone speech?

Do you have difficulty moving your lips, jaw, and tongue?

Do you have difficulty swallowing, which may lead to constant drooling?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have dysarthria. Dysarthria is a speech disorder in which the muscles that are involved in producing speech are weak or paralyzed. A person with dysarthria has difficulty controlling damaged muscles, which leads to the inability to form and pronounce words. Dysarthria is commonly caused by various disorders of the nervous system, such as stroke, severe brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The affected area of the brain will determine the type of dysarthria. This condition can also be a consequence of the side effects of certain medications. Dysarthria does not affect a person's intelligence.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have dysarthria. Dysarthria is a medical condition characterized by the inability to articulate words normally. In people with dysarthria, the muscles used to create speech are weak or difficult to control. There are two types of dysarthria: central, which is the result of brain damage, and peripheral, which is caused by damage to the speech organs (tongue, larynx or vocal cords). Some people with dysarthria have minor speech problems, while others have extremely impaired speech that is difficult to understand. A speech-language pathologist and a neurologist should be involved in assessing a person with dysarthria.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have dysarthria. Dysarthria is a medical condition that refers to speech difficulties. Dysarthria can affect various aspects of speech such as the ability to pronounce sounds correctly or speaking at normal volume. Your speech may become slurred or slow, making it difficult for others to understand you. Communication problems due to dysarthria may affect a person’s relationships with family and friends or lead to social isolation and depression. Treatment will depend on the severity of the symptoms and the underlying cause. Speech therapy is important for improving your speech and communication skills.