Dysarthria is a motor-speech disorder that weakens the muscles used in speech production. Making it difficult to coordinate and control these muscles, which can lead to a range of challenges. There are many small muscles in our face, lips, tongue, lungs, and throat that we use everyday to speak. When these muscles are damaged, weakened, or paralyzed, it may make it difficult for individuals to correctly pronounce words, effectively communicate their thoughts, and speak with ease. There are several types of dysarthria depending on where damage has occurred to the brain, the severity of this damage, and which muscles have been affected. Additionally, there are also mixed dysarthrias that include features of more than one type. Identifying which dysarthria you may have requires the trained expertise of a doctor or speech-language pathologist. How is Dysarthria Treated? Both your doctor and speech therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan based on your specific diagnosis and underlying symptoms. Depending on the symptoms and severity of your dysarthria, your speech therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan designed to help you regain normal speech and meet your communication goals. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, about two-thirds of adults with dysarthria related to a central nervous system disease can improve their speech with help from a speech therapist. For individuals with severe dysarthria that significantly affects their ability to communicate, the speech therapist may recommend alternative communication methods. These can include using visual cues, writing, and gestures to get your message across, as well as a computer or electronic devices. These tools are called augmentative and alternative communication, or AAC devices. Based on the client’s age, communication difficulties, and speech and language goals, the speech therapist will develop a personalized treatment plan to help them meet their needs. Adult clients can choose to attend sessions by themselves, but are also welcome to invite caregivers or family members to join the treatment sessions as well. All therapy is delivered online via face-to-face video conferencing. For toddlers, school-age children, and younger adults, We Achieve speech therapists will use different strategies to interact with them through video chat capabilities and ensure parents and caregivers are actively involved.