Dysarthria Definition
Dysarthria is a condition that occurs when the muscles you use to speak are too weak or you have difficulty controlling them. As a result, this condition often causes sufferers to lisp or speak too slowly and is difficult to understand.
Common causes of dysarthria include nervous system disorders and conditions that cause facial paralysis or weakness of the tongue or throat muscles. Certain medications can also trigger the condition.
Treating the cause of dysarthria can improve speech. People with dysarthria may also need speech therapy. Meanwhile, for cases of dysarthria caused by prescription drugs, changing or stopping the drug may help.
Symptoms of Dysarthria
Signs and symptoms of dysarthria vary, depending on the underlying cause and type of dysarthria. They include:
- Slurred speech.
- Speak slowly.
- Inability to speak louder than a whisper or speaking too loudly.
- Rapid speech that is difficult to understand.
- Nasal, hoarse, or strained voice.
- Uneven or abnormal speech rhythm.
- Speech volume is uneven.
- Speaking monotonously.
- Difficulty moving the tongue or facial muscles.
Causes of Dysarthria
The cause of dysarthria depends on the type of disorder. Both types can be present at birth or develop as you grow older.
Central dysarthria can result from any disease or injury that causes brain damage. Some examples are:
- Brain tumor.
- Dementia.
- Side effects of certain medications, such as tranquilizers and anti-seizure drugs.
- Stroke.
- Traumatic brain injury.
- Neuromuscular diseases can also cause central dysarthria:
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).
- Cerebral palsy.
- Huntington’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Muscular dystrophy.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Parkinson’s disease.
Peripheral dysarthria develops from damage to the speech organs that changes the way a person sounds. Causes include:
- Congenital (born with) structural problems.
- Surgery on the head, neck, tongue, or voice box.
- Trauma to the face or mouth.
Researchers don’t know exactly how common dysarthria is. It’s more common in people who have certain neurological conditions, such as:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Up to 30 percent of people with this condition (Lou Gehrig’s disease) have dysarthria.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): About 25 percent to 50 percent of people with MS experience dysarthria at some point.
- Parkinson’s disease: Dysarthria affects 70 to 100 percent of people with Parkinson’s disease.
- Stroke: About 8 to 60 percent of stroke sufferers experience dysarthria.
- Traumatic Brain Injury: Approximately 10 to 65 percent of people with traumatic brain injury experience dysarthria.
Risk Factors for Dysarthria
In fact, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing dysarthria, for example:
- Bell’s palsy disease.
- Head injury.
- Brain tumor.
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Autoimmune diseases of the nerves, such as multiple sclerosis.
- Guillain-Barre syndrome.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Muscular dystrophy.
- Myasthenia gravis.
- Other diseases, such as Huntington’s, Wilson’s, Parkinson’s, and Lyme.
Diagnosis of Dysarthria
A speech-language pathologist will evaluate the person’s speech to help determine what type of dysarthria is present. This examination can help the neurologist look for an underlying cause.
In addition to performing a physical examination, the doctor will ask the patient to undergo tests to identify underlying conditions, including:
- Imaging Tests. Imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, create detailed pictures of the brain, head and neck that can help identify the cause of speech problems.
- Brain and Nerve Studies. These can help determine the source of symptoms. An electroencephalogram (EEG) measures electrical activity in the brain. An electromyogram (EMG) evaluates electrical activity in nerves as they send messages to muscles. Nerve conduction studies measure the strength and speed of electrical signals as they travel through nerves to muscles.
- Blood and Urine Tests. These can help determine whether an infectious disease or inflammation is causing the symptoms.
- Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap). In this procedure, a doctor or nurse inserts a needle into the lower back to remove a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid for laboratory testing. A lumbar puncture can help diagnose serious infections, central nervous system disorders, and brain or spinal cord cancer.
- Brain Biopsy. If a brain tumor is suspected, the doctor takes a small sample of brain tissue for testing.
- Neuropsychological Testing. This measures thinking (cognitive) skills, the ability to understand speech, the ability to understand reading and writing, and other skills. Dysarthria does not affect cognitive skills and understanding of speech and writing, but the underlying condition can.
Complications
Due to the communication problems that cause dysarthria, complications can include:
- Difficulty Socializing. Communication problems can affect a person’s relationships with family and friends and make social situations challenging.
- Depression. In some people, dysarthria can lead to social isolation and depression.
Dysarthria Treatment
Treatment will depend on the cause and severity of symptoms and the type of dysarthria you are experiencing. Your doctor will treat the cause of your dysarthria if possible, which can improve your ability to speak. If your dysarthria is caused by prescription medications, talk to your doctor about changing or stopping the medication.
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Speech and Language Therapy
You are scheduled for speech and language therapy to help regain normal speech and improve communication. The goals of speech therapy include adjusting speech rate, strengthening muscles, improving breathing support, improving articulation, and helping family members communicate with you.
A speech-language pathologist will suggest trying other communication methods if speech and language therapy is not effective. These communication methods may include visual cues, gestures, alphabet boards, or computer-based technology.
Prevention of Dysarthria
Unfortunately, not all causes of dysarthria can be prevented. The most common cause is stroke, so it is important to take preventive measures against stroke, such as:
- Regular exercise.
- Avoid smoking.
- Consume foods high in fiber and low in fat.
- Check your health regularly, especially for people with diabetes and hypertension.
When to See a Doctor?
Contact a doctor immediately to get the best solution if you experience these symptoms. Especially if these symptoms have been going on for days. Remember, fast and effective treatment can improve the quality of life of sufferers.
