What aspects of speech systems may be affected when a person has dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder resulting from neurological injury that affects the muscles involved in speech production. When a person has dysarthria, various components of the speech production system can be impacted, particularly the rate of muscle movement. This includes how quickly and efficiently the muscles responsible for articulation (the tongue, lips, and soft palate) can move, which is crucial for producing clear speech.

Individuals with dysarthria often exhibit slowed or irregular speech rates, which can significantly affect their intelligibility. This is because the timing and precision of muscle movements are essential for correct speech production. While aspects like strength, articulation, and volume are important in communication, the distinctive characteristic of dysarthria lies in the movement of the speech mechanisms, making the rate of muscle movement a core aspect affected by the disorder.