What causes dysarthria?
Dysarthria is caused by poor control of the speech muscles. Damage to the brain or the nerves that control the muscles involved in speaking can cause weakness, slowness and inco-ordination of the speech muscles. It may be the result of stroke, other injury to the brain, or diseases like Parkinson’s and ALS. In adults, dysarthria is can be caused by stroke, degenerative disease (Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis), infections (meningitis), brain tumours, and toxins (drug or alcohol abuse, lead poisoning, carbon monoxide, etc.).
