ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Dysarthria

What is dysarthria?

4 May 2021

It is a speech disorder in which the muscles of the face and mouth weaken causing problems to articulate spoken language, which can force oneself to express slowly and confusedly, making it difficult to understand what is being said.

Dysarthria usually appears due to neurological disorders, facial paralysis, conditions that weaken the tongue, throat, and upper respiratory system, as well as the intake of certain drugs that cause this effect.

If the origin of the disorder is identified and treated appropriately, the ability to speak improves significantly, although speech therapy is also often required to achieve clearer articulation and expression. There are several possible causes for the appearance of this disorder, such as:

  • Brain injuries.
  • Brain tumors.
  • Cerebral palsy.
  • Sedatives
  • Anticonvulsants.
  • Multiple sclerosis.
  • Muscle atrophy.
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
  • Parkinson’s.
  • Stroke.

Signs and symptoms Dysarthria

  • Slow language articulation.
  • Confused speech difficult to understand.
  • Too high or too low volume when speaking.
  • Speak very quickly and almost without opening your mouth.
  • Nasal and hoarse voice.
  • Changing rhythm when uttering words.
  • Limited mobility of the lips, jaw, and tongue.
  • Salivate when speaking.
  • Chewing and swallowing problems.

In many cases, dysarthria can be a manifestation of some serious condition, so if you have any of the symptoms mentioned, go to your doctor to discover its origin and start treating it immediately, avoiding complications, communication problems, social isolation, and depression.

Diagnosis and treatment Dysarthria

Once the neurologist analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination to determine the cause of the dysarthria, based on tests such as:

  • Blood and urine tests.
  • Electromyography.
  • Electroencephalogram.
  • MRI.
  • Computed tomography.
  • Lumbar puncture.
  • Neuropsychological evaluation.

They will also refer you to a speech therapist to assess your ability to speak and help identify the type of dysarthria you suffer from.

The treatment to be followed will be established according to the direct cause, the type of dysarthria and the magnitude of the symptoms, but in all cases, once the cause has been addressed, it will be necessary to receive speech therapy to normalize the muscular and articulatory function of the speech.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Nervous system specialties

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Spine surgery
  • Pediatric neurosurgery
  • Neurophysiology
  • Neuro-rehabilitation
  • Neuro-pathology
  • Interventional neuro-radiology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Neuro-otology
  • Epilepsy
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Neuroimaging

Related centers and departments Dysarthria

Neurology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • clevelandclinic.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • mayocilinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • asha.org
  • medigraphic.com
  • Sánchez SM, Pérez PN, Marrero SNT, et al. Neurorehabilitación logopédica en niños con parálisis cerebral y disartria asociada. Revista de Ciencias Médicas de la Habana. 2021;28(1):16-28.
  • Gutiérrez-Castillo A, Jiménez-Ruiz A, Gutiérrez-Castillo J, et al. Síndrome lacunar disartria-mano torpe. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(4):619-622.
  • Villegas TN, Jiménez TP. Propuesta terapéutica del agramatismo en niños con parálisis cerebral. Plasticidad y Restauración Neurológica. 2004;3(1-2):9-14.
  • Seijo VMH, Duany MT. Disarthria and rehabilitation: a look from the primary health care. Rev Méd Electrón. 2015;37(2):162-164.

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