Improving Dysarthria with
Intensive Therapy

More importantly, recent studies utilizing intensive speech therapy have demonstrated substantial results in improving the symptoms of speech and language deficits.

The opportunity for you to put an effective exercise routine into practice will be discussed in more detail. However, as speech pathologists, we would like to begin by providing you with a complete understanding of this speech disorder...

What is Dysarthria?

Dysarthria is an articulation disorder caused by weakness or paralysis of the oral muscles (the muscles associated with speech).

These include: the jaw, lips, tongue, and palate (the "roof of your mouth")

What are the Causes?

The cause is due to damage to the nerves directly connected to the oral muscles. It is classified as an oral-motor deficit and is treated by qualified speech-language pathologists.

It is often a result of disease, such as:

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cerebral Palsy
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or "Lou Gehrig's Disease"

However, it can also be acquired as the result of:

• A Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
• Head Injury
• Exposure to Toxic Substances

The Art of Speaking

Speech depends on your ability to control breathing, articulation, and voicing, all at the same time. If you actually had to think about each activity before performing the act of speech, you would probably only speak a few sentences per day.

Fortunately, our body system allows us to achieve the complex task of speaking with little effort. However, when we break down each system necessary for speech it becomes clear at how talented we truly are:

Breathing: Breath is the power behind our speech. Singers and active public speakers are well aware of this fact. Our lungs supply the energy necessary to support the stream of sentences we produce.

Articulators: General articulators are the jaw, lips, tongue, and palate. These all have to move in unison to create the many different positions in our mouth necessary to produce sound combinations that provide us with "words" and "sentences."

Voice: The vocal folds (more commonly known as, "vocal cords"), also have to be put into motion to produce sound.

All Three Working Together

Now, visualize yourself saying a simple sentence, such as, "I like cereal."

To say that seemingly easy sentence you have to:

• Take in a breath, and then time its release carefully so it equally supports each word you say.
• Move your jaw, tongue, and lips quickly and accurately into several different positions to create each vowel and consonant.
• And, also open, close, and vibrate your vocal cords several times to supply sound.

All of these actions must take place at the same time and with precision each time you speak. It is an amazing feat when you realize the complexity of it.

What does this have to do with Dysarthria?

When any of these subsystems breaks down, you will encounter a disruption in your speech. Specific damage to an area of the brain responsible for oral motor strength will result in dysarthria.

Is your loved one frustrated with the constant struggle to produce clear speech? Learn how to start improving their communication skills today!

Common Characteristics

Typical symptoms include:

• Oral muscle weakness
• Difficulty with oral coordination
• Speech may have a "nasal quality"
• Breath isn't supporting the voice, resulting in a "low speaking voice"
• Overall speech sounds are slurred or garbled

Types Of Dysarthria

There are four commonly identified types of dysarthria. The cause of each type is determined by what is called, the site of lesion. This refers to a specific location in the brain where damaged occurred.

Each site of lesion (area of damage) will cause specific speech deficits:

1. Ataxic: This is characterized by slow, erratic speech. Articulation errors may be somewhat irregular. Breathing coordination is frequently poor.

2. Flaccid: Speech is characterized by a nasal quality (sounding as if "speaking through your nose") and a "breathy" voice due to poor closure of the vocal cords (resulting in low volume). Consonant sounds are especially difficult to articulate.

3. Spastic: As with flaccid dysarthria, consonants are mostly difficult to articulate. Speech is usually slow and seemingly strenuous. There is very little, if any, raising or lowering of vocal pitch (sounding like a "monotone voice").

4. Mixed: This includes a variety of characteristics described in the types above. The specific symptoms will vary from person to person.

For more information on dysarthria, including organizations, agencies, Internet resources, reports, and research projects, please visit the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC)

How can you help a loved one with Dysarthria?

• Give the person extended time to talk. Do your best to be patient.
• If you can't understand their speech, encourage other means of communicating such as, writing the message, pointing to objects or pictures, or by making gestures.
• Always look at the person’s lips and face, to get additional visual information.
• Remind the person to speak slowly and exaggerate each sound.


• If unsure of what the person said, you can repeat the information back to them to confirm the message.
• Be respectful. Remember that the person is an adult with a speech disorder.
• Hold conversations in a place with no distractions.
• Always present a positive attitude.

One effective therapy method is known as Oral-Motor Therapy.

A speech pathologist will use speech musculature exercises (oral motor therapy) to improve range of motion, coordination, and speed of tongue, lip, jaw, and vocal muscles.

Improvement is often achieved following a series of exercises ranging from "easy" to "very challenging." For the best possible results the appropriate exercises should be practiced everyday.

Oral Motor Therapy includes exercises for:

• Breath control
• Articulation
• Building endurance and coordination of the oral muscles

Daily practice will improve oral muscle control as well as increase the accuracy of your speech.

Check our oral-motor exercise page for a list of effective exercises you can practice at home.

Traditional Speech Therapy

Professional speech therapy is also used to treat oral weakness. Speech therapy focuses on improving speech intelligibility (how well your speech can be understood by others).

This is accomplished through presenting effective exercises that focus on speech production. Exercises range from accurately producing simple vowel and consonant sounds to achieving clear dialogue during conversations.

Oral-motor therapy and speech therapy will both provide the exercises needed to establish improvement and progress in your speech intelligibility!

Get the Results you Want!

As speech pathologists, not only do we want to be your source of valuable information on how to improve your speech skills, but we also want to provide you with quality solutions.

Since daily practice is necessary for significant improvement an affordable source of professional therapy is invaluable:

Oral Motor Exercises and Speech Therapy On DVD and VHS

For a limited time you can own any of our professionally recognized video titles on VHS for the low price of $9.95.

Designed by experienced speech-language pathologists, these videos allow you to practice successful oral-motor therapy and speech therapy at any time and in the comfort of your own home.

View our videos of professional exercises to improve your dysarthria!