dysarthria
Pronunciation: dis-AR-three-ah
A motor speech disorder resulting from weakness or incoordination of speech muscles due to neurological damage.
Full Definition
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder characterized by difficulty articulating words due to weakness, slowness, or incoordination of the muscles used for speech production. Unlike aphasia, which affects language processing, dysarthria specifically impacts the physical production of speech while language comprehension and formulation remain intact. This condition commonly results from stroke, traumatic brain injury, degenerative diseases, or other neurological conditions affecting motor control. Speech-language pathologists and neurologists frequently document various types of dysarthria including spastic, flaccid, ataxic, hypokinetic, and mixed forms. Medical editors should distinguish this from aphasia and other speech disorders in clinical documentation. The condition significantly impacts quality of life and communication effectiveness.
Usage
Usage note: Frequently confused with aphasia; dysarthria affects speech production, not language processing.
In Context
- "The patient's dysarthria improved following intensive speech therapy targeting articulatory precision." — Speech therapy progress note
- "Spastic dysarthria was consistent with the bilateral corticobulbar tract involvement." — Neurological consultation