Dysarthria is a neurogenic speech disorder that is caused by dysfunctional or damaged innervations to the musculature involved in speech.
Dysarthria is typically marked by difficulty in inactivity functioning. Children with dysarthria usually have challenges early on with sucking, chewing and swallowing.
Speech involves your lips, tongue and cheek muscles as well as your roof of your mouth and your voice box. Dysarthria happens because of damage to the nerves that control these muscles.
“Speech Therapy Services” specialists are well experienced in the diagnosis of Dysarthria type and the following treatment.
We treat the following types of Dysarthria:
- Ataxic dysarthria
- Flaccid dysarthria
- Spastic dysarthria
- Hyperkinetic dysarthria
- Hypokinetic dysarthria
- A Mixed dysarthria
Our speech/language pathologist may evaluate your speech to learn the type of dysarthria you have. This may be useful to the neurologist, who will look for the underlying cause.
Outward expressions of dysarthria may vary, depending on the underlying cause and the type of dysarthria, and may include:
- Slow/Slurred speech
- Rapid speech that is difficult to understand
- Inability to speak louder than a whisper or speaking too loudly
- Nasal, raspy or strained voice
- Uneven or abnormal speech rhythm/ volume
- Difficulty moving tongue or facial muscles
- Monotone speech
There are a wide variety of exercises and approaches, and their use will depend on the severity and location of the brain lesion or the type of disorder causing dysarthria.
Advantages of our treatment:
- Improving the breath support so the person can speak more loudly
- Slowing the rate of speech
- Strengthening muscles
- Improving articulation so that speech is more clear
- Increasing mouth, tongue, and lip movement
- In severe cases, learning to use alternative means of communication
- Teaching caregivers, family members, and teachers strategies to better communicate with the person with dysarthria
Depending on the underlying cause, type and severity of the Dysarthria, treatment may involve a wide range of oral motor exercises to strengthen and stimulate oral sequencing patterns and possible provision of adaptive feeding equipment.
Neuro-musculature electrical stimulation to the face, lip and surrounding areas has provided assistance with cognitive reorganization of oral movement.
Contact us for more information at (561) 123-1234