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What is dysarthria in speech therapy?

A motor speech disorder caused by muscle weakness—speech may sound slurred, slow, or quiet. Different from apraxia (planning issue). Often caused by neurological conditions. Example: Speech that sounds slurred, slow, or quiet due to muscle weakness.

🩺Speech & Language Disorders

Dysarthria

What is dysarthria in speech therapy?

A motor speech disorder caused by muscle weakness—speech may sound slurred, slow, or quiet. Different from apraxia (planning issue). Often caused by neurological conditions.

Example

Speech that sounds slurred, slow, or quiet due to muscle weakness.

🔊 Speech affected by muscle weakness

⚠️ When to Seek Help

Consider consulting a speech-language pathologist if:

  • Your child is frustrated or avoids speaking
  • Others have difficulty understanding your child
  • You notice regression (losing skills they had)
  • Your gut tells you something isn't right

Trust your instincts. Early evaluation is always better than waiting.

How can I help my child with dysarthria?

Our clear audio models provide targets for children working on speech clarity.

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About this guide: This glossary is designed to help parents understand speech therapy terminology. Definitions are simplified for clarity and informed by resources from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Not medical advice: This information is educational only. For concerns about your child's speech development, consult a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP).Find an SLP near you →

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Parents Also Ask

What is dysarthria?▼

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by muscle weakness or poor coordination. Speech may sound slurred, slow, quiet, or breathy. Unlike apraxia (a planning problem), dysarthria is a muscle strength/control problem.

What is the difference between dysarthria and apraxia?▼

Dysarthria = muscle weakness/control issue (consistent errors). Apraxia = motor planning issue (inconsistent errors). A child with dysarthria has weak speech muscles. A child with apraxia has normal muscles but trouble planning movements.

Brandi Keith, M.S. CCC-SLP
"I got to use Little Wheels and I love it — it's engaging and fun for therapy."
Brandi Keith, M.S. CCC-SLP — Speech-Language Pathologist
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Related Terms

Apraxia (Childhood Apraxia of Speech)

A motor speech disorder where the brain has difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech. The child knows what they want to say but their brain struggles to tell their mouth how to move.

Articulation

How clearly your child produces individual speech sounds. It's the physical ability to move the tongue, lips, and jaw to make sounds correctly. Different from phonology, which is about sound patterns.

More Speech & Language Disorders

View all →
Speech Sound DisorderPhonological DisorderApraxia (Childhood Apraxia of Speech)StutteringEcholalia

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Little Wheels apps use vehicle-based learning to make speech practice engaging and fun. Perfect for home practice between therapy sessions.

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