Dysarthria is characterized by which description?

• A. Inability to understand language
• B. Hearing loss
• C. Slurred or slowed speech due to impaired muscle control
• D. Memory loss

Answer: (C)

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by weakness, incoordination, or paralysis of the muscles used to speak—such as the lips, tongue, palate, and vocal cords. Because the muscles aren’t controlled well, speech becomes slurred, slowed, or imprecise, with altered rate, rhythm, and voice quality. The content and comprehension of what is being said are typically intact, and hearing is normal, so the issue lies in how speech is produced rather than what is understood or heard. That’s why the description “slurred or slowed speech due to impaired muscle control” best fits dysarthria.