Dysarthria: Improving Speech

How to say it

dihs-AR-three-uh

Speech therapy

The main goal in therapy is to help your loved one speak more clearly so they are easier to understand. The speech therapist will help them with how to control and strengthen muscles in the face and mouth. These exercises are often done in front of a mirror. Your loved one may also learn new ways of breaking up words or making sounds. For instance, they may do activities that help them:

• Improve their pronunciation of sounds.

• Focus on one word at a time rather than on entire sentences.

• Control and slow down their rate of speech.

• Control their breathing during speech.

• Improve and increase the range of movement with muscles in the mouth, tongue, and respiratory systems.

You can help

Like any skill, speech gets better with practice. Talk to the person as you normally would. Say what you need to say, then wait for an answer. Try these tips:

• Practice saying sounds and words together. The speech therapist may provide word lists.

• Remind the person to speak slowly. This gives them time to make all the sounds that form each word.

• Ask them to repeat words you can't understand. Or ask them to try saying it another way.

• Try not to speak for the person unless it is necessary.

• Encourage efforts that the person makes to improve their speech.

• Try reducing background noise.

• Have other ways to communicate available, such as a tablet or a pen and paper.