Dysarthria Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Dysarthria is a condition in which the speech process is obstructed due to disturbances in the muscles that play a role in producing sound. Disturbances that occur can be in the form of the muscles of the lips, tongue, vocal cords, or the diaphragm in the chest. Generally, these complaints occur due to nervous disorders.
This condition makes it difficult for sufferers to speak, such as slow or slurred speech. As a result, the sufferer’s interlocutor often has difficulty understanding what is being said. However, dysarthria does not affect the intelligence of the sufferer.
Reason
The cause of dysarthria is damage to the brain. This damage can occur at birth or as an adult. Brain damage at birth, for example, occurs in Bell’s palsy.
Meanwhile, in adults, the brain damage that can lead to dysarthria is caused
- Strokes
- Brain injury
- Brain tumor
- Parkinson’s disease
- Autoimmune disease of the nerves, namely multiple sclerosis
- And several other causes
Symptom
Symptoms of dysarthria that can be found include:
- Speaks like someone is gargling or slurring so it’s hard to understand
- Speak very slowly
- Flat tone without intonation
- Hoarse or nasal voice
- When talking, minimal tongue or jaw movement
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of dysarthria is determined by a doctor or speech therapist. To determine the presence of dysarthria, doctors usually ask the patient to speak on a topic that is familiarly known, mention the name of the day, or mention the number, to find out the quality of the sound produced.
In addition, the movement of the patient’s mouth, tongue, and vocal cord muscles will also be examined. To determine the brain damage that has occurred, doctors will generally also advise the patient to do a CT scan or MRI of the brain.
Treatment
Treatment of dysarthria includes two things, namely addressing the cause and improving the speech process so that the conversation is easier to understand.
If dysarthria is caused by brain damage from a stroke, the brain damage is usually difficult to cure. What can be done is to rehabilitate the patient’s speech. For that, the role of the speech therapist is very important.
The therapist will teach you how to make sound production clearer. For example by slowing down the speed of speech, practicing phonation (the patient is asked to say the letters one by one clearly), and so on.
Prevention
Not all cases of dysarthria can be prevented. One of the most common causes of dysarthria is stroke. Therefore, it is important to take preventive measures against stroke which will also reduce the risk of dysarthria.
Live a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and consuming foods high in fiber and low in fat. Don’t forget to check your health regularly and keep your blood pressure and blood sugar in normal condition.