Dysarthria is a neurological speech disorder characterized by difficulty in articulating sounds, words, and phrases due to weakness, paralysis, or incoordination of the muscles involved in speech production. It can result from various underlying conditions, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, or certain neuromuscular disorders.

Key features of dysarthria may include slurred speech, imprecise pronunciation, slow or rapid speech, and changes in voice quality (e.g., hoarseness). The severity of dysarthria can vary from mild to severe, depending on the underlying cause and the extent of muscle impairment.