5 things to know about Childhood Dysarthria

Here are five key points to know about childhood dysarthria:

1. Motor speech disorder: Childhood dysarthria is a neurological condition characterized by difficulties in controlling the muscles involved in speech production, including the lips, tongue, jaw, and vocal cords.

2. Causes and types: Dysarthria in children can have various causes, such as cerebral palsy, genetic disorders, traumatic brain injury, or developmental delays. Different types of dysarthria exist, including spastic, flaccid, ataxic, hypokinetic, and mixed dysarthria.

3. Articulation challenges: Dysarthria affects speech clarity and intelligibility. Children with dysarthria may have slurred, imprecise, or distorted speech due to weakness, coordination problems, or muscle stiffness.

4. Communication strategies: Speech therapy plays a vital role in managing childhood dysarthria. It focuses on improving speech intelligibility by teaching compensatory strategies, using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, and enhancing overall communication skills.

5. Individualized treatment: Dysarthria treatment is tailored to the specific needs of each child. Speech-language pathologists work with children and their families to develop therapy plans that address their unique speech goals, facilitate functional communication, and enhance overall quality of life.