Learning Support Update

Dysarthria (difficulty speaking)

Dysarthria is where you have difficulty speaking because the muscles you use for speech are weak. It can be caused by conditions that damage your brain or nerves and some medicines. Speech and language therapy can help.

Check if it’s Dysarthria

The main symptom of Dysarthria is unclear speech. This can make it difficult for you to make yourself understood.

Your speech may only be slightly unclear, or you may not be able to speak clearly at all.

Other symptoms include:

• Difficulty moving your mouth, tongue or lips
• Slurred or slow speech
• Difficulty controlling the volume of your voice, making you talk too loudly or quietly
• A change in your voice, making it nasal, strained or monotone
• Hesitating a lot when talking, or speaking in short bursts instead of full sentences

Being stressed or tired may make your symptoms worse.

A good youtube video about Dysarthria is available here:  What’s a Speech Disorder? Dysarthria vs. Apraxia Treatment (youtube.com)     Dysarthria is mainly connected with stroke victims and older people, but the trainer in this video is very good – Level 3 H+SC students should be interested, and anyone with grandparents!