Dysarthria

Dysarthria is a condition where a person's muscles used for speech—such as those controlling the lips, tongue, or vocal cords—are weakened or difficult to coordinate. This results in speech that may be slow, slurred, soft, or garbled, making it hard for others to understand. It typically occurs due to damage to the nervous system, such as from a stroke, brain injury, or neurological diseases like Parkinson's. While the person's thinking and understanding are usually unaffected, speech production is impaired. Treatment often involves speech therapy to improve communication skills.