Dysarthria is a motor-speech disorder where brain or nerve damage affects speech muscles, causing slurred, slow, or difficult-to-understand speech. SLPs treat dysarthria through breath control exercises, muscle strengthening, speech pacing techniques, and alternative communication methods. Treatment success varies by type and cause, with some patients achieving significant improvement.
Becoming a speech pathologist offers the opportunity to address a variety of disorders and injuries that affect your patients’ daily lives and communication skills. Dysarthria is one of the more common speech disorders you’ll encounter in this profession, and it’s an ailment that has the potential to severely impact a patient’s quality of life. Successful treatment of dysarthria means you’ve helped your clients regain their ability to be heard again and, with it, a sense of autonomy.
Understanding what dysarthria is and how to treat it effectively is essential for any aspiring speech-language pathologist. This comprehensive guide covers the different types of dysarthria, their causes, and the evidence-based treatment methods you’ll use to help patients communicate clearly once again.
- Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
- Grand Canyon University - Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. - This STEM program focuses on training aspiring speech-language pathologists to offer compassionate, effective services to individuals with communication disorders
- Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
- NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
- Pepperdine University - Embark on a transformative professional and personal journey in the online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program from Pepperdine University. Our program brings together rigorous academics, research-driven faculty teaching, and robust clinical experiences, all wrapped within our Christian mission to serve our communities and improve the lives of others.
What Is Dysarthria?
Dysarthria is a motor-speech disorder where permanent brain or nerve damage impacts the muscles responsible for speech production. The condition results from neurological impairment that affects the strength, coordination, or range of motion in the facial muscles, tongue, lips, vocal cords, or diaphragm.
Individuals with dysarthria know exactly what they want to say. Their cognitive understanding and language processing remain intact. The challenge lies in the physical execution of speech as damaged nerves fail to send proper signals to the speech muscles. These muscles may become limp and loose (flaccid) or tight and rigid (spastic), creating significant communication barriers.
Dysarthria vs. Dysphagia: Understanding the Difference
Dysarthria may co-occur with dysphagia, an impairment affecting the ability to swallow. When both conditions are present, it’s because the muscles and nerves that control speech and swallowing are closely located in the body and the brain. While dysarthria affects speech production, dysphagia impacts safe eating and drinking. As an SLP, you’ll often treat both conditions simultaneously.
Common Symptoms of Dysarthria
The presentation of dysarthria varies depending on the type and severity, but common symptoms include:
- Slurred, mumbled, or indistinct speech patterns
- Abnormally slow speech or rapid, incomprehensible speech
- Inability to control vocal volume (speaking only in whispers or only in shouts)
- Uneven or choppy vocal patterns and rhythm
- Monotone speech lacking normal inflection
- Stiff, limited facial muscle movement
- Difficulty moving the tongue or lips
- Drooling or difficulty managing saliva
What Causes Dysarthria?
Dysarthria can develop suddenly or gradually, depending on the underlying cause:
- Stroke (the most common cause in adults)
- Brain injury or tumor
- Progressive neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and Huntington’s disease
- Cerebral palsy and other congenital conditions
- Guillain-Barré syndrome and other nervous system disorders
- Myasthenia gravis and muscular dystrophy
- Certain medications, particularly sedatives and seizure medications
The onset pattern matters for treatment planning. Sudden-onset dysarthria from stroke or injury may show improvement with intensive therapy, while progressive neurological disorders require ongoing compensatory strategies as the condition evolves.
Dysarthria in Children
Diagnosing dysarthria in children presents unique challenges. It’s often misidentified as childhood apraxia of speech because young patients may show weakness only in speech-associated muscles without other evident physical impairments. Children may not fully understand assessment instructions or cooperate with diagnostic procedures, making accurate evaluation more complex.
As a speech-language pathologist, you’ll play a vital role in helping patients manage dysarthria. Your interventions help clients regain or maintain speech abilities using compensatory techniques and adaptive strategies. You’ll often work alongside neurologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists as part of an interdisciplinary care team focused on improving your patients’ overall quality of life and communication abilities.
Types of Dysarthria
Different types of dysarthria result from damage to specific areas of the nervous system, each presenting with distinct symptoms and requiring tailored treatment approaches. Understanding these classifications helps you develop targeted intervention strategies for your patients.
Ataxic Dysarthria
Ataxic dysarthria typically results from cerebellar damage caused by strokes or degenerative diseases. Patients exhibit classic signs that may resemble intoxication: slurred speech, unpredictable vocal intensity with sudden volume increases, and overall lack of coordination in speech movements. The irregular rhythm and timing create a characteristic “scanning” speech pattern.
Flaccid Dysarthria
This type develops after strokes, congenital disorders, ALS, cerebral palsy, tumors, myasthenia gravis, or other traumas affecting the lower motor neurons. Patients show low muscle tone throughout their speech mechanism. Their speech often sounds breathy or hypernasal due to weak vocal cord closure and inadequate velopharyngeal function. Physical signs may include hypotonic facial muscles and, depending on which nerves are affected, potential jaw weakness or drooping. Swallowing difficulties may also be present.
Hyperkinetic Dysarthria
Hyperkinetic dysarthria results from basal ganglia damage, commonly associated with Huntington’s disease, tardive dyskinesia, or dystonia. Patients demonstrate excessive, involuntary movements affecting speech. Their voice may sound strained or strangled, with unpredictable variations in volume and speaking rate. These abnormal movements can interrupt speech flow unpredictably.
Hypokinetic Dysarthria
Most commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease, hypokinetic dysarthria also results from basal ganglia dysfunction. Unlike hyperkinetic dysarthria, this type features reduced movement and amplitude. Patients may speak in short bursts or rushes, often due to difficulty with speech initiation rather than consistently increased speed, with reduced volume, and often in a monotone or with limited pitch variation. A resting tremor may be present, and cognitive impairment often accompanies the condition, potentially affecting treatment progress.
Spastic Dysarthria
Stroke is the most common trigger for spastic dysarthria, though tumors, cerebral palsy, encephalitis, and primary lateral sclerosis can also cause it. Patients exhibit spasticity of the speech muscles, leading to slow, effortful speech production. The voice sounds harsh and strained, with weakness and hyperactive reflexes. Depending on the underlying cause, cognitive decline may occur alongside the speech impairment.
Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron Dysarthria
This form most often results from stroke or neurosurgery, with traumatic brain injury and tumors as additional causes. These patients are typically easier to understand than those with other dysarthria types because only one side of the face is affected. Asymmetric impairment results in less overall speech distortion. While many cases show significant improvement or resolution with therapy, some patients experience persistent chronic symptoms depending on the extent and location of the neurological damage.
Mixed Dysarthria
Mixed dysarthria involves any combination of the above types and occurs more frequently than “pure” single-type presentations. It typically results from multiple strokes or progressive diseases like ALS, Wilson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis that affect multiple areas of the nervous system. Symptoms overlap from multiple categories, requiring you to address various impairments simultaneously in your treatment plan.
Dysarthria Types: Quick Comparison
| Type | Common Causes | Key Speech Characteristics | Primary Treatment Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ataxic | Cerebellar stroke, degenerative cerebellar disease | Slurred speech, irregular rhythm, sudden volume changes | Pacing techniques, rhythm exercises |
| Flaccid | Lower motor neuron damage, ALS, myasthenia gravis | Breathy voice, hypernasality, low muscle tone | Muscle strengthening, breath support |
| Hyperkinetic | Huntington’s disease, dystonia, and basal ganglia disorders | Strained voice, excessive movements, variable volume | Movement control, compensatory strategies |
| Hypokinetic | Parkinson’s disease | Soft voice, monotone, rapid rushes of speech | LSVT LOUD therapy, volume increase |
| Spastic | Bilateral stroke, cerebral palsy, upper motor neuron damage | Harsh voice, slow rate, strained quality | Relaxation techniques, rate control |
| Unilateral Upper Motor Neuron | Unilateral stroke, neurosurgery | Mild impairment, one-sided facial weakness | Facial exercises, often short-term therapy |
| Mixed | ALS, multiple sclerosis, multiple strokes | A combination of symptoms from multiple types | Comprehensive approach addressing multiple impairments |
Treatment for Dysarthria
Treatment approaches vary based on the type, severity, and underlying cause of dysarthria, though many therapeutic techniques overlap across classifications. The goal isn’t always to restore pre-condition speech abilities but rather to maximize functional communication through compensatory strategies and adaptive methods.
Core Treatment Techniques
Evidence-based dysarthria treatment combines several therapeutic approaches:
- Speech rate modification — Teaching patients to speak more slowly helps bridge the gap between the brain’s processing speed and the muscles’ response time. Pacing boards, metronomes, and digital pacing apps can help establish appropriate speaking rates.
- Oral motor exercises — Regular tongue and lip exercises when not speaking encourage muscular strength and coordination. Targeted movements help rebuild neural pathways and improve the range of motion.
- Breath support training — Proper breathing techniques increase vocal power and endurance. Patients with reduced breath support learn to take adequate breaths before speaking, while those using excessive breath learn to control and coordinate their breathing.
- Articulation therapy — Focused practice on precise sound production, often starting with exaggerated movements that gradually become more natural.
- Word selection strategies — Teaching patients to choose simpler, shorter words when complex vocabulary proves difficult. Monosyllabic alternatives can maintain communication while reducing frustration.
- Communication repair strategies — When misunderstood, patients learn to spell words, over-articulate, or use gestures to clarify their message.
- Environmental modifications — Reducing background noise, ensuring good lighting for visual cues, and positioning listeners appropriately all improve communication success.
Partner Training and Family Support
Family and caregiver involvement is essential for treatment success. You’ll train communication partners to:
- Use personalized communication cues (e.g., the patient saying “lunch” signals the conversation topic)
- Practice active listening techniques
- Ask clarifying questions appropriately
- Support but do not dominate conversations
- Maintain patience during communication breakdowns
Regular participation in therapy sessions helps families understand and support the communication methods their loved one is learning, significantly improving real-world communication success.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
For patients with severe or progressive dysarthria, you may introduce augmentative and alternative communication systems. AAC encompasses all communication methods beyond speaking:
- Low-tech options: writing, communication boards, picture exchange systems, gesture dictionaries
- Mid-tech options: voice amplifiers, dedicated communication devices
- High-tech options: speech-generating devices with text-to-speech output, eye-gaze tracking technology for patients with limited motor control, tablet-based communication applications with customizable vocabulary
AAC doesn’t replace speech therapy but supplements it, ensuring patients maintain communication abilities even as their condition evolves.
Can Dysarthria Be Cured?
Recovery potential depends heavily on the underlying cause and the type of dysarthria. Patients whose dysarthria resulted from medication side effects or mild stroke may achieve complete or near-complete recovery with appropriate therapy. Medication-induced dysarthria often resolves when the causative drug is discontinued or dosage adjusted.
For progressive neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, ALS, or multiple sclerosis, the focus shifts from “cure” to maintaining functional communication as long as possible and transitioning to compensatory strategies as the disease progresses. Your treatment goals will emphasize quality of life and helping patients express their needs, thoughts, and personality despite physical limitations.
Research shows that intensive therapy, particularly when started early, produces the best outcomes. Patients who commit to daily practice between therapy sessions typically achieve greater improvements than those who practice only during appointments.
Specializing in Treatment of Dysarthria
While no industry certifications exist specifically for dysarthria, several pathways allow you to develop advanced expertise in treating this condition, particularly when focusing on specific neurological disorders.
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) LOUD Certification
The LSVT LOUD Certification training specializes in treating Parkinson’s patients, for whom hypokinetic dysarthria is a common symptom. This evidence-based treatment protocol focuses on increasing vocal loudness and improving speech intelligibility through intensive, systematic exercises.
LSVT LOUD training includes:
- 16 therapy sessions over four weeks (four sessions per week)
- Focus on increasing vocal loudness through calibrated exercises
- Carryover activities for daily life integration
- Data-driven progress monitoring
ASHA offers continuing education credits for LSVT courses, now available fully online. This certification significantly enhances your marketability for positions working with patients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological populations.
Board Certification in Neurologic Communication Disorders
Consider pursuing board certification from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences (ANCDS). This advanced credential demonstrates specialized clinical expertise in neurologic communication disorders, including dysarthria, to patients, employers, and medical professionals.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Current CCC-SLP certification from ASHA
- Minimum five years of clinical experience treating neurologic communication disorders
- Three letters of recommendation from healthcare professionals familiar with your clinical work
- Completion of the Board Certification Candidacy Application with applicable fees
The certification process involves:
- Submitting two comprehensive case studies demonstrating clinical reasoning
- Delivering an oral presentation of your work
- Participating in a discussion with board members following your presentation
- Receiving “Pass” or “Does not meet standards” designation
This credential cements your reputation as an expert clinician and opens doors to leadership positions, clinical mentorship roles, and specialized practice opportunities.
Additional Professional Development Opportunities
Beyond formal certifications, several professional development options enhance your dysarthria treatment skills:
- ASHA Continuing Education — ASHA offers specialized webinars and e-workshops focusing on assessment and treatment of dysarthria, often featuring current research and clinical innovations.
- SpeechPathology.com CE Courses — An annual subscription provides unlimited access to continuing education courses, including multiple dysarthria-specific offerings covering assessment protocols, treatment techniques, and AAC implementation.
- PROMPT Training — PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets) is a tactile-kinesthetic approach valuable for motor speech disorders, including dysarthria. ASHA offers CEUs for this hands-on training method.
- University-based workshops — Many universities with strong communication disorders programs offer specialized workshops on neurogenic communication disorders.
- Conference attendance — Annual conferences from ASHA, state speech-language-hearing associations, and specialty groups provide cutting-edge research presentations and networking opportunities with dysarthria specialists.
If you’re interested in building a career focused on neurological populations, consider exploring medical speech-language pathology specializations during your master’s program. Many programs offer clinical placements in medical settings where you’ll gain extensive experience with dysarthria and other neurogenic disorders.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dysarthria
Can dysarthria come and go?
Dysarthria doesn’t typically appear and disappear intermittently. However, symptom severity can fluctuate based on factors like fatigue, stress, time of day, and medication timing. Patients often experience better speech clarity when well-rested and worse clarity when fatigued. Some causes of dysarthria, particularly certain medications, may cause symptoms to vary if the patient adjusts their medication schedule or dosage. Progressive neurological conditions may show periods of relative stability followed by decline rather than true coming and going of symptoms.
Can anxiety cause dysarthria?
Anxiety alone doesn’t cause clinical dysarthria. It’s extremely rare for anxiety to produce the muscle weakness or neurological impairment that defines true dysarthria. While severe anxiety can cause temporary speech difficulties like rapid speech, stuttering, or vocal tension, these symptoms differ fundamentally from dysarthria because they don’t involve actual neurological damage to the speech muscles or nerves. If someone experiences dysarthria-like symptoms only during anxiety episodes, it’s not clinical dysarthria but rather a functional speech disruption.
What type of dysarthria is associated with ALS?
Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) most commonly develop mixed dysarthria, typically combining flaccid dysarthria (from peripheral nervous system damage) and spastic dysarthria (from motor cortex damage). This combination results from ALS affecting both upper and lower motor neurons simultaneously. Symptoms include slow speech rate, imprecise consonant articulation, and hypernasality. As ALS progresses, the mixed dysarthria typically worsens, eventually requiring augmentative communication systems in most patients.
Does dysarthria go away?
Recovery depends entirely on the underlying cause. Dysarthria from treatable causes like medication side effects, mild stroke, or temporary conditions may resolve completely with appropriate speech therapy and medical management. Unilateral upper motor neuron dysarthria from stroke often shows significant improvement or complete resolution within months. However, dysarthria from progressive neurological diseases (Parkinson’s, ALS, MS) or severe brain injuries is less likely to resolve completely. These patients benefit from therapy that maintains function and teaches compensatory strategies rather than aiming for a cure.
What is the difference between apraxia and dysarthria?
Both are motor speech disorders, but they affect different aspects of speech production. Apraxia is a neurological disorder affecting motor planning and sequencing—patients know what they want to say and have adequate muscle strength, but they can’t coordinate the correct sequence of movements to produce speech. They may struggle to initiate speech or produce inconsistent errors. Dysarthria, in contrast, involves actual muscle weakness, paralysis, or incoordination due to neurological damage. Dysarthria patients can plan their speech correctly but lack the physical muscle control to execute it properly. The speech errors in dysarthria are typically more consistent than in apraxia.
How long does dysarthria treatment take?
Treatment duration varies significantly based on dysarthria type, severity, and underlying cause. Acute cases of mild stroke may require 8-12 weeks of intensive therapy with continued improvement over 6-12 months. Medication-induced dysarthria may resolve within weeks of adjusting the medication. Progressive conditions require ongoing therapy—sometimes for years—with goals shifting from improvement to maintenance as the disease advances. Patients with severe dysarthria may need 3-6 months of intensive therapy before seeing significant gains. Most patients benefit from 2-3 therapy sessions per week initially, transitioning to less frequent sessions as they progress.
Can children have dysarthria?
Yes, children can develop dysarthria, most commonly from cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, brain tumors, or genetic conditions affecting the nervous system. Childhood dysarthria is often more challenging to diagnose than in adults because children may show weakness only in speech muscles without other obvious physical signs. It’s frequently misidentified as childhood apraxia of speech. Young children may not fully cooperate with assessment procedures, making an accurate diagnosis more complex. Treatment for pediatric dysarthria focuses on maximizing speech development, establishing functional communication (including AAC when needed), and supporting overall communication development.
- Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
- Grand Canyon University - Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. - This STEM program focuses on training aspiring speech-language pathologists to offer compassionate, effective services to individuals with communication disorders
- Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
- NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
- Pepperdine University - Embark on a transformative professional and personal journey in the online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program from Pepperdine University. Our program brings together rigorous academics, research-driven faculty teaching, and robust clinical experiences, all wrapped within our Christian mission to serve our communities and improve the lives of others.
Key Takeaways
- Dysarthria is a motor-speech disorder affecting 20-40% of stroke survivors and involving seven distinct types based on the neurological location and nature of damage
- Treatment focuses on compensatory strategies, including breath support, speech pacing, muscle strengthening, and alternative communication method,s rather than always aiming for complete recovery
- SLPs can specialize through LSVT LOUD certification (for Parkinson’s patients) or ANCDS board certification in neurologic communication disorders to enhance their dysarthria treatment expertise
- Recovery potential varies dramatically—medication-induced or mild stroke cases may fully resolv,e while progressive diseases like ALS or Parkinson’s require ongoing adaptive strategies
- Family and caregiver training is essential for treatment success, as communication partners must understand and support the strategies patients learn in therapy
- Early, intensive intervention produces the best outcomes, with patients who practice daily between sessions showing significantly more improvement than those who don’t
Start Your Journey as a Speech-Language Pathologist
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Medical Review: This article has been reviewed for accuracy by speech-language pathology professionals. The information provided is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. Last Updated: November 2025
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Speech-Language Pathologists reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2025.