Dysarthria Treatment: Speech Therapy
Personalized, evidence-based care designed to help you regain communication skills and confidence.
Who it’s for: Speech therapy for individuals with dysarthria focuses on improving speech intelligibility, clarity, and coordination. Dysarthria, a motor speech disorder, occurs when individuals experience weakness, paralysis, or poor coordination of the muscles required for clear and effective speech. This condition can be either congenital or acquired and may present in various forms. At Verse, our qualified speech therapists are equipped to address the different degrees, types, and severity of dysarthria that you or your loved ones may be experiencing.
What it addresses: Speech therapy for dysarthria aims to improve speech clarity, strength, and muscle coordination through various respiratory, oral motor, and speech sound exercises.
Why Verse Therapy: At Verse, we provide therapists who specialize in specific communication disorders and enjoy helping clients and their families. They offer evidence-based treatments and are dedicated to personalized care. The best part is that you can participate in sessions from the comfort of your own home!
Understanding Dysarthria
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder that can be either acquired or congenital (present from birth) and can impact individuals of all ages. Dysarthria manifests as weakness, paralysis, or poor coordination of the muscles necessary for clear and efficient speech. Individuals diagnosed with dysarthria may experience reduced speech intelligibility, a slower rate of speech, and inadequate control of the speech articulators, such as the tongue, lips, and jaw.
Flaccid Dysarthria
This type is linked to disorders impacting lower motor neuron pathways and motor units, which can lead to weakness and decreased muscle tone. Speech may sound weak and nasal, and articulation difficulties may also occur.
Spastic Dysarthria
Spastic dysarthria occurs due to bilateral disorders of the upper motor neuron system, leading to muscle stiffness and tightness that affects speech production. Speech may be effortful, harsh and strained.
Ataxic Dysarthria
Arising from issues within the cerebellar control circuit, ataxic dysarthria is characterized by problems with coordination and timing of speech movements, often resulting in slurred or irregular speech.
Hypokinetic Dysarthria
Also associated with basal ganglia dysfunction, hyperkinetic dysarthria involves excessive and involuntary movements, leading to erratic speech patterns.
Next, we will discuss the benefits of dysarthria speech treatment and how it can improve your speech and communication.
Explore Your Dysarthria Treatment Options
At Verse, our clinicians ensure that your speech therapy is personalized to meet your specific needs while providing educational and therapeutic tasks to improve speech intelligibility, confidence, and help you reach your communication goals.
Articulation Therapy
Dysarthria is a motor speech impairment. Depending on the type of dysarthria you have been diagnosed with, you may engage in oral motor exercises that involve the lips, jaw, and tongue. These exercises may also focus on specific speech sounds to enhance intelligibility.
Breathing and Voice Control Exercises
Your speech-language pathologist may provide breathing and voice control exercises, depending on the type of dysarthria you have. These exercises aim to improve breath support, vocal volume, and stability.
Oral Motor Exercises
Individuals with challenges in strength and coordination of their oral motor muscles may engage in speech drills aimed at improving their coordination with speech sounds, such as speech acuity drills, in order to achieve clear and concise speech.
Group Therapy Sessions
Individual dysarthria speech therapy is an effective way to improve areas that may be impaired or “weaker” and affect your speech intelligibility. Group therapy provides an opportunity to practice the skills learned in individual sessions and apply them in a social setting. This practice is valuable as it allows you to interact with others who have dysarthria, creating a supportive environment.
Schedule a consultation today to find the right speech therapist at Verse and take a step closer to achieving your speech goals!
Benefits of Dysarthria Treatment
If you have been diagnosed with dysarthria or have been living with it for years, speech therapy can help improve your speech intelligibility and communication skills, turning you into a confident communicator. Our therapists at Verse are here to encourage and support you, providing applicable and evidence-based therapy to help you achieve your communication goals.
Improved Speech Clarity
Some types of dysarthria can cause slurred speech. Our speech therapists use various therapeutic tasks in therapy to strengthen, improve coordination, and enhance precision, leading to clearer speech. Effective communication is essential for successfully navigating daily activities and maintaining social areas. Clear speech enables individuals to engage in conversations, express their needs, and participate fully in their communities.
Enhanced Vocal Control
Dysarthrias that impact voice and vocal production. Your SLP will provide exercises and programming to improve areas of voice (volume, pitch, and tone), as these speech characteristics are key to effectively conveying a message.
Increased Confidence in Social Interactions
Improving your speech clarity can significantly boost your confidence in both social situations and the workplace! Imagine how satisfying it feels to express yourself clearly and effectively, making interactions more enjoyable and opportunities more accessible.
Speech therapy at Verse, allows you to work with a specialist who is caring, encouraging and is motivated to help you reach your communication goals. Book a consultation today to take one step closer to becoming a confident communicator.
Why Choose Verse Therapy for Virtual Dysarthria Speech Therapy?
At Verse, our dedicated therapists are available across all time zones in the United States, ensuring that you can find a suitable time for your sessions no matter where you are located. We prioritize flexibility in scheduling, allowing you to select appointment times that work best for you. Plus, you can engage in your therapy sessions from the comfort and privacy of your own home, making it easier to prioritize your mental well-being. Your convenience and comfort are our top priorities!
Convenience
At Verse, you can easily participate from the comfort of your home—say goodbye to long commutes and crowded waiting rooms! Experience convenience like never before!
Flexibility
We’re dedicated to making dysarthria speech therapy accessible for you and your family! That's why our therapists offer a flexible schedule, ensuring we can meet with you at a time that works best for your needs. Let's find a time that fits your life!
Accessibility
Experience the power of virtual therapy! Regardless of your location, you can connect with highly qualified therapists who are dedicated to helping you thrive. Your journey to better communication is just a click away!
Personalized Care
Our speech therapists prioritize evidence-based therapeutic practices while tailoring speech therapy to meet your specific needs. You are always involved in the care provided, and we work together to achieve your personal goals.
What to Expect from Dysarthria Treatment
What your dysarthria therapy will look like:
01Initial Consultation
Start with a call with one of Verse's intake specialists, where we listen to your concerns and find out if dysarthria therapy is right for you. Once matched with an SLP, they will review your medical history , talk about your personal goals and then assess your speech abilities.
02Personalized Treatment Plan
Following the dysarthria evaluation, the therapist will develop a dysarthria treatment plan that focuses on the areas needing improvement while also considering your personal goals.
03Ongoing Sessions
While participating in weekly therapy, your therapist keeps detailed records of your progress towards your goals. This allows them to monitor your progress and ensure you are making appropriate progress.
04Family and Caregiver Involvement
Feel free to chat with your speech therapist to learn ways to provide practice at home or for tips on improving communication with the individual participating in dysarthria therapy!
Meet Our Dysarthria Therapy Specialists
Christy Harden
Christy Harden is an Arizona-based Speech-Language Pathologist with over 20 years’ experience in the field. Christy’s experience spans acute care in hospital settings as well as care in rehabilitation facilities, outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, regional centers, schools, and private practice. Currently she owns and operates a private practice in Sedona, AZ, providing individualized holistic services custom designed to meet each client's specific needs. She refers to her office as her "studio" and thinks of her practice as an art. Christy is a California native and graduated with Master’s degrees in both Speech Pathology and English with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from California State University Sacramento. She holds additional certifications in Integrative Health Coaching and Raw Food Consultation and has authored several books. She enjoys spending time reading, writing, working in her garden, and playing with her young daughter.
**My Approach to Therapy**
I create a "Cadillac" of individualized services custom designed to meet each client's specific needs. I specialize in pediatric and young adult treatment and remediation.
**What A Speech Therapy Session Looks Like With Christy**
I engage fun sessions that use a multimodality approach for increased skill acquisition and retention, accelerated progress, and home/school integration when appropriate. My intentionally protected low caseload ensures the highest quality service.
**Fun Facts About Christy**
Most of the time you can find me:
- Momming my 7-year-old daughter
- Reading
- Writing books and essays
- Indoor and outdoor gardening
**Patient Testimonials**
"We couldn’t be happier with the care and expertise of Sedona Speech/Christy! The progress both of our children have made in such a short time is truly remarkable. They genuinely look forward to their sessions, whether in person or virtual—both are equally engaging and effective. She’s incredibly accommodating with scheduling and her communication with me and my husband has been fantastic, helping us to better support our kids’ progress at home. Her office is warm and welcoming, and her approach is both creative and highly advanced. We trust her completely and have seen the incredible impact she’s had on our children’s development. I would recommend her to anyone—she’s an exceptional therapist and has made such a difference in our family’s lives!
Jakeysha Prescott
Jakeysha Prescott is a Virginia-based speech-language pathologist with over 8 years of experience. She earned a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from Emory University and Master’s in speech-language pathology from Old Dominion University. She started her speech pathology career in long-term care specializing in adult and geriatric populations. As a travel speech therapist, she has worked in a variety of settings including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care, inpatient rehab, and home health. Jakeysha is knowledgeable in evaluating and treating various concerns including tracheostomies, dementia, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases. She is also proficient in dysphagia management and cognitive rehabilitation therapy. She is passionate about providing stroke and TBI education and making speech therapy more accessible for all. In her spare time, Jakeysha enjoys traveling, sewing, and reading.
**My Approach to Therapy**
Speech Therapy focuses on creating a supportive and engaging environment tailored to each individual’s goals. My approach integrates evidence-based techniques with creativity to make therapy effective, enjoyable, and client-centered.
**What a Session Looks Like With Jakeysha**
I provide virtual speech therapy sessions where we address your personal goals by building skills through targeted activities. Sessions are structured yet flexible, progressing while adapting to the client’s unique goals and interests.
Samantha Welch
Samantha is a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist with over 4 years of diverse experience across various care settings, including skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, independent living facilities, and assisted living facilities with memory care units. Samantha is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She holds a BS in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences from the University of Arizona and earned her MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Chapman University. Samantha is passionate about empowering her clients to build confidence, enhancing their independence and self-assurance while working towards their goals. Outside of work, Samantha is an amateur ceramist and loves playing guitar, gardening, and spending time with loved ones.
**My Approach to Therapy**
Speech Therapy focuses on creating a supportive and engaging environment tailored to each individual’s goals. My approach integrates evidence-based techniques with creativity to make therapy effective, enjoyable, and client-centered.
**What a Session Looks Like With Samantha**
I provide virtual speech therapy sessions where we address your personal goals by building skills through targeted activities. Sessions are structured yet flexible, progressing while adapting to the client’s unique goals and interests.
Real Stories of Transformation
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FAQs About Dysarthria
Dysarthria typically results from neurological conditions or injuries that affect the muscles used for speech. This can include stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, or other conditions that impact the nervous system's ability to coordinate speech muscles. Sometimes, dysarthria may also develop following surgery or as a side effect of certain medications.
The duration of dysarthria therapy varies significantly based on the underlying cause, severity, and individual factors. Some individuals may see improvements within a few months of consistent therapy, while others may benefit from ongoing support. The therapy journey is personalized, with progress depending on factors like neurological recovery, practice consistency, and therapeutic goals.
Dysarthria therapy employs a comprehensive set of techniques including breathing exercises, oral-motor exercises to strengthen speech muscles, articulation drills, and rate modification strategies. Therapists also work on prosody (rhythm and intonation of speech), vocal loudness, and may incorporate technology-assisted feedback. Treatment often includes both direct exercises and practical communication strategies for daily life.
Yes, dysarthria therapy can significantly improve speech clarity for many individuals. Through targeted exercises and consistent practice, people often experience better articulation, improved breath support, and more precise muscle control. While the degree of improvement varies, many individuals achieve clearer, more intelligible speech that enhances their ability to communicate effectively in daily situations.
Dysarthria therapy can benefit anyone diagnosed with dysarthria, regardless of age or severity. This includes individuals who have experienced stroke, traumatic brain injury, progressive neurological conditions, or other conditions affecting speech muscle control. A thorough evaluation by a speech-language pathologist can determine the most appropriate therapy approach based on individual needs and capabilities.
Take the First Step to Reclaim Your Voice
Are you prepared to begin your journey toward improved speech? We invite you to connect with us and schedule a meeting with one of our experienced speech therapists who specializes in Dysarthria. Our dedicated team is passionate about helping you achieve your speech goals and will work closely with you to create a personalized plan tailored to your unique needs.