Dysarthria: Meaning, Diagnosis and Overview

What is Dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder in which you have difficulty controlling or coordinating the muscles you use when you speak, or weakness of those muscles. The muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury. The type and severity of dysarthria depend on which area of the nervous system is affectedWhen it occurs in children it’s usually the result of brain changes before or during birth and is known as developmental dysarthria. 

Recovery Time

The probability of recovery following trauma is higher than following stroke. Prognosis for the recovery of linguistic function varies enormously and is difficult to predict as it is affected by many factors.

Diagnosis

The doctor will look at movement of the lips, tongue, and face, as well as breath support for speech, voice quality, and more. Depending on your condition, tests may include

  • MRI scan
  • CT scan 
  • PET scan
  • Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan





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