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Dysarthria: Causes, Types, and Speech-Language Therapy

As a specialized speech therapist, I treat dysarthria in adults both in Málaga and online.

Dysarthria is a neurological speech disorder. It affects the ability to articulate words clearly. The patient knows what they want to say. However, muscle weakness or lack of coordination makes it difficult to produce speech.

It is important to distinguish it from aphasia. In aphasia, the problem is with language. In dysarthria, the problem is motor-related: the speech muscles do not function properly.

What is dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a neuromotor speech disorder caused by an impairment in the coordination, strength, or control of the respiratory, phonatory, resonatory, articulatory, and prosodic subsystems. It reduces speech intelligibility even though language production is intact.

In other words: the patient is thinking clearly and knows what he or she wants to say. But the muscles used for speaking do not respond properly.

Causes of Dysarthria

Dysarthria can occur at any age. Its causes are neurological in nature.

The most common ones are:

  • Stroke (CVA or ictus): the most common cause in adults
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Brain Tumors
  • Cerebral Palsy: In Children and Young Adults

Dysarthria affects 22–58% of patients with acute stroke. In Parkinson’s disease, the prevalence is even higher: between 44% and 88% of patients develop dysarthria at some point during the course of the disease.

Types of Dysarthria

The type of dysarthria depends on the area of the nervous system that is affected. The main types are:

  • Spastic dysarthria: slow, strained speech; hoarse voice. Common in bilateral stroke.
  • Flaccid dysarthria: nasal, weak voice; hypernasality. Associated with motor nerve lesions.
  • Ataxic dysarthria: irregular and imprecise speech, with variations in volume and rhythm. Common in cases of cerebellar lesions.
  • Hypokinetic dysarthria: monotonous voice, low intensity, rapid and unintelligible speech. Characteristic of Parkinson’s disease.
  • Hyperkinetic dysarthria: involuntary movements that interrupt speech. Associated with movement disorders.

Nearly 90% of patients with Parkinson’s disease have hypokinetic dysarthria. Its characteristics include low-intensity voice, monotony, consonantal imprecision, and irregular pauses. All of these factors negatively impact speech intelligibility and social participation.

Symptoms of dysarthria: When should you see a speech therapist?

Symptoms vary depending on the type and severity. However, the most common ones are:

  • Speech that is unclear or difficult to understand
  • Weak, monotonous, or hoarse voice
  • Speech that is too slow or too fast
  • Difficulty coordinating breathing and speech
  • Imprecise articulation of consonants
  • Nasal or muffled voice
  • Fatigue when speaking

If these symptoms appear, it is important to consult a speech-language pathologist as soon as possible. Studies show that dysarthria following a stroke is primarily characterized by imprecise articulation of consonants and slowed speech. However, half of the patients show complete recovery within the first week if they receive early intervention.

Treatment for Dysarthria: How a speech therapist works

A speech therapist is the primary professional responsible for the evaluation and treatment of dysarthria. Treatment is always tailored to the type of dysarthria and the patient’s profile.

The most commonly used techniques include:

  • Breathing Control and Vocal Support Exercises
  • Articulatory Precision Work
  • Control of the Pace and Speed of Speech
  • Vocal Amplification Techniques
  • Orofacial Praxis Exercises
  • Functional Communication Strategies

Scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of the treatment.

A randomized clinical trial involving 40 patients with post-stroke dysarthria demonstrated that speech therapy using a smartphone app was significantly more effective than standard treatment in reducing the severity of dysarthria. Statistically significant improvements were observed in articulation, intelligibility, and quality of life.

Online sessions are just as effective.

A multicenter clinical trial involving 73 patients with post-stroke dysarthria demonstrated that speech therapy administered via videoconference was not inferior to conventional in-person therapy in terms of speech intelligibility, with equivalent results after 4 weeks of intervention.

This confirms that online speech therapy is a valid and accessible option for patients with dysarthria.

Dysarthria: Speech Therapist in Málaga and Online

If you or a family member is having trouble speaking clearly, don’t wait. A speech-language evaluation can help identify the type of dysarthria and develop a personalized treatment plan.

I offer speech therapy sessions in Spanish, French, and English, both in person at my office in Mijas (Málaga) and online for patients throughout Spain and abroad.

Contact me

Would you like to learn more about neurological language disorders? Be sure to read my article on aphasia following a stroke.

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