Dysarthria Types and Treatments

A speech disorder characterized by slow, slurred speech with reduced volume and clarity. Typically seen in conditions like Parkinson's disease.

A technique used to improve speech clarity and volume by delaying auditory feedback. This helps patients hear their own speech more clearly and adjust their articulation.

A research-based treatment program designed to improve speech loudness, clarity, and overall speech quality in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

A specific component of LSVT Loud treatment that focuses on increasing vocal effort and loudness.

A speech therapy technique that involves slowing down speech rate, often using visual aids for pacing. This method aims to improve articulation and intelligibility.

The inability to fully move the articulators, causing speech sounds to be produced with less precision than normal.

A group of speech exercises that target intonation and pitch range, aiming to improve speech clarity.

A set of exercises that aim to improve speech intelligibility by targeting the rate and rhythm of speech.

A type of speech therapy technique that helps individuals with dysarthria improve their speech by focusing on specific aspects of the speech production process, such as articulation, respiration, and phonation.

The lack of dopamine in the basal ganglia causes a disruption in the smooth, coordinated movement of the body, resulting in a range of symptoms, including tremors, muscle rigidity, and slow movements.

A set of speech therapy techniques that emphasize the use of facial expressions and gestures to enhance speech intelligibility and naturalness.

This disorder has roots in the basal ganglia, a crucial area for regulating voluntary movement.

Medications are not usually effective but in cases of episodic ataxia, Diamox might be helpful.

A type of therapy that focuses on teaching individuals with dysarthria strategies to improve their speech by using external aids, such as visual cues, gestures, or assistive technology.

A type of dysarthria characterized by slurred speech, thick tongue, drooling, and a heavy feeling on the affected side of the face.

A condition where the body's immune system attacks the neuromuscular junction, resulting in muscle weakness and fatigue, especially during sustained effort.

A type of dysarthria characterized by weakness and lack of coordination of the muscles involved in speech.

A neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in muscle contractions.

A medication used to treat Myasthenia Gravis.

A medication commonly used to treat Parkinson's Disease.

A type of dysarthria that can occur in patients with Parkinson's Disease, often as a side effect of medication.

Characterized by progressive weakness of the muscles involved in speech production, leading to difficulties with breathing, phonation, resonance, articulation, and prosody.

A condition affecting the muscles responsible for speech and swallowing, caused by damage to cranial nerves that control these functions.

A type of respiratory treatment that involves strengthening the muscles used for breathing and controlling the flow of air during speech.

A technique that involves using the abdominal muscles to support breathing during speech, enhancing vocal intensity and endurance.

A vocal technique that emphasizes a forceful start of voice production by quickly closing the vocal folds and releasing air for sound.

A compensatory strategy used to improve articulation by focusing on the precise placement of the tongue, lips, and jaw.

A method of improving breathing control during speech by taking a deep breath and speaking at the start of exhalation.

Strategies for controlling the airflow during speech, including taking deep breaths, speaking with a slow and controlled exhale, and using postural adjustments to support breathing.

A tremor that appears when a person is moving or performing an action, but disappears when the person is at rest. It is a common neurological disorder.

A tremor that occurs when a person is at rest and decreases when they move. It is a characteristic feature of Parkinson's disease.

A medication used to treat essential tremor, particularly affecting the head and voice.

A type of involuntary movement characterized by rapid, jerky, unpredictable movements of the limbs, trunk, face, and head. It is often associated with neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease.

A type of dysarthria caused by chorea, resulting in rapid, variable speech with irregular articulation and unpredictable pauses or changes in loudness.

The vocal quality associated with choreic dysarthria, characterized by strained, strangled, and variable loudness, sudden pauses, and breathy speech due to rapid and irregular inspiratory and expiratory movements.

An irregular and unpredictable respiratory pattern characteristic of choreic dysarthria, often resulting in rapid and sudden inhalations and exhalations.

An articulation disorder caused by chorea, resulting in imprecise consonants, distorted vowels, irregular articulation breakdown, and prolonged phonemes.

A surgical procedure where a portion of the globus pallidus is destroyed to reduce tremors, dyskinesia, and dystonia. It is a treatment option for severe symptoms in conditions like Parkinson's disease.

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are used to treat focal dystonias, especially those affecting the jaw, tongue, and vocal cords. The toxin temporarily blocks the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that controls muscle contraction, leading to muscle relaxation.

This surgery involves cutting a portion of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, causing unilateral vocal fold (VF) paralysis. This prevents the hyperadduction of the VF that occurs in spasmodic dysphonia, resulting in smoother voice production.

Artane (trihexyphenidyl) is a medication primarily used for Parkinson's disease, but it has shown effectiveness in managing laryngeal and respiratory dystonia. It helps improve speech by reducing abnormal muscle contractions in the vocal cords and breathing muscles.

A type of dystonia affecting the muscles around the mouth and jaw. This condition can interfere with speech and swallowing.

A voice disorder characterized by involuntary muscle spasms in the vocal cords, leading to a strained, effortful voice or a sudden break in voice production.

A neurosurgical procedure that involves stimulating specific areas of the brain with electrical impulses to alleviate movement disorders. It has been shown to be effective for tremor, dyskinesia, and dystonia.

A rare type of dystonia that affects the muscles of the tongue, often resulting in involuntary tongue protrusion. Botox injections can be used to help relax these muscles.