Dysarthria is primarily caused by

Dysarthria is primarily caused by

• A. Damage to the inner ear affects balance
• B. Inability to understand language
• C. Weakness/paralysis of muscles causes slurred speech
• D. Visual impairment causes words to blur

Answer: (C)

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles used to speak—lip, tongue, jaw, vocal cords, and the breathing muscles. When these muscles can’t be controlled precisely, speech becomes slurred, imprecise, and may have abnormal rhythm or voice quality. This reflects a problem with the nerves and muscles that actually produce speech, not with understanding language, seeing, or hearing. So the description of weakness or paralysis of the speaking muscles leading to slurred speech best captures what dysarthria is.

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by weakness or paralysis of the muscles used to speak—lip, tongue, jaw, vocal cords, and the breathing muscles. When these muscles can’t be controlled precisely, speech becomes slurred, imprecise, and may have abnormal rhythm or voice quality. This reflects a problem with the nerves and muscles that actually produce speech, not with understanding language, seeing, or hearing. So the description of weakness or paralysis of the speaking muscles leading to slurred speech best captures what dysarthria is.