Dysarthria

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder resulting from impairment of the neuromuscular control of speech production. Etiologies include stroke, neurodegenerative disorders, traumatic brain injury, and neuromuscular diseases. Clinical features include slurred, slow, or monotonous speech, depending on the type and location of the lesion. Diagnosis is clinical, supported by speech-language evaluation and neurologic examination. Management is symptomatic, involving speech therapy and assistive communication devices; prognosis depends on etiology and extent of neurological impairment.