Dysarthria

What Is Dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a speech difficulty caused by weakness, stiffness, or poor coordination in the muscles used for speaking. These include the muscles of the lips, tongue, jaw, throat, and the breathing muscles that power the voice. Speech may sound slurred, slow, quiet, or hard to understand.

Dysarthria is different from aphasia. A person with dysarthria knows what they want to say and understands others. The difficulty is in physically producing clear speech.

Common Causes

Dysarthria happens when the brain, nerves, or muscles that control speech are affected. Common causes include:

• Stroke
• Brain injury
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
• Brain tumours

After a stroke or brain injury, dysarthria often appears suddenly. With conditions like Parkinson’s, MS, or ALS, it may develop gradually and change over time.

Common Signs

• Slurred or mumbled speech
• Speaking too softly, or a voice that fades toward the end of sentences
• Speaking too slowly or too quickly
• A hoarse, breathy, strained, or nasal voice
• Flat speech with little change in pitch or emphasis
• Running out of breath while talking
• Being asked to repeat yourself, especially on the phone or in noisy places

How Dysarthria Is Assessed

A speech-language pathologist looks at how the muscles for speech move and work together, and at breathing, voice, and how clear your speech is in words, sentences, and conversation. We also ask about the situations where being understood matters most to you.

How Speech Therapy Helps

Therapy focuses on being understood in daily life. Depending on the cause and your goals, support may include:

• Exercises for voice loudness and breath support
• Practicing clearer speech at a slower, steadier pace
• Strategies such as pausing between phrases or emphasizing key words
• Tips for conversation partners and for difficult settings like noisy rooms or phone calls
• Using supports like writing, alphabet boards, or communication apps when speech alone is not enough

For progressive conditions, therapy can also help you plan ahead and keep communication strong as things change.

Therapy is available online across BC and in person in White Rock, Surrey, Langley, and Delta. Learn more about our speech therapy after stroke and neurological changes.

Tips for Family and Friends

• Face the person and give them your full attention when they speak
• Reduce background noise, like the TV or radio
• If you did not understand, say so, and repeat back the part you did catch
• Be patient and avoid finishing their sentences unless asked
• Keep important conversations for times when they are less tired

Our team includes a speech-language pathologist with experience in adult neurological rehabilitation. Learn more about Tiffany Santos.