Slurred speech, or dysarthria, is a common disorder that affects much of the elderly population. The condition occurs when the muscles of the mouth, face and throat become weakened and stop working properly. As people age, they begin to lose muscle mass all over their body.Apr 14, 2014

• When you grow older some of your body functions do not work the way they used too. Your motor skill ability may decrease over the time. Slurred speech in elderly occurs when there is a lack of coordination between the brain, tongue, mouth and vocal cord. The medical term for slurred speech is known as dysarthria.

Your motor skill ability may decrease over the time. Slurred speech in elderly occurs when there is a lack of coordination between the brain, tongue, mouth and vocal cord. The medical term for slurred speech is known as dysarthria.

Is garbled speech a sign of a stroke?

Stroke . Trouble speaking , along with having a numb or drooping face and feeling weak in one arm or a leg, is one of the major signs of stroke . When the oxygen supply has been cut off to your brain by a blood clot, you could have slurred speech or be hard to understand, or be unable to talk at all.

What is garbled speech?

Slurred speech symptoms Slurred speech is when you have trouble speaking , your words are slow or garbled , or your words run together. Slurred speech is also called dysarthria. There are plenty of jokes about slurred speech , and it’s understood to be a sign of drunkenness.

Can dehydration cause garbled speech?

According to Mayo Clinic, severe dehydration can lead to mental confusion and disorientation. This might present as “brain fog” and could be as dramatic as slurred speech or extreme forgetfulness. If you or someone you know is experiencing this symptom, it’s definitely time to seek medical attention.

Do dementia patients slurred speech?

Specific symptoms may include confusion, slurred speech , or impaired thinking. This type of vascular dementia is also known as multi-infarct dementia . Less often, vascular dementia develops after a person experiences a major stroke (one that blocks a large blood vessel and causes significant brain damage).

Why do I suddenly have trouble speaking?

If you experience a sudden onset of impaired speech, seek medical attention right away. It might be a sign of a potentially life-threatening condition, such as a stroke. If you develop impaired speech more gradually, make an appointment with your doctor. It may be a sign of an underlying health condition.

Are there warning signs days before a stroke?

– Warning signs of an ischemic stroke may be evident as early as seven days before an attack and require urgent treatment to prevent serious damage to the brain, according to a study of stroke patients published in the March 8, 2005 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

What neurological disorders cause speech problems?

Conditions that may lead to dysarthria include: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS , or Lou Gehrig’s disease ) Brain injury. Brain tumor . Cerebral palsy. Guillain-Barre syndrome. Head injury . Huntington’s disease . Lyme disease.

Why do I forget words when speaking?

When you forget a word, it has not disappeared from memory; it is still there, but in the moment of speaking something is preventing it from being fully retrieved. The inability to find words can indicate brain injury or infection, strokes, and degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Can dysarthria go away?

Dysarthria caused by medicines or poorly fitting dentures can be reversed. Dysarthria caused by a stroke or brain injury will not get worse, and may improve. Dysarthria after surgery to the tongue or voice box should not get worse, and may improve with therapy.

How can you tell if the body is well hydrated?

A simple way to gauge your level of hydration is to pay attention to the color of your urine. If your urine is very dark and has a strong odor, you are definitely dehydrated and should increase your water intake. If your urine is completely clear, you are likely drinking too much.

Can stress and anxiety cause slurred speech?

Anxiety -related slurred speech is often a passing condition, which typically lasts up to a few hours (though it might just happen during one conversation). The impact is different for everyone.

Can lack of sleep cause slurred speech?

Sleep deprivation mimics the effects of drinking alcohol—you may experience slurred speech and uncontrolled reflexive movements of the eye called nystagmus. You may also develop a slight shakiness or tremor in your hands. Some people even have a more pronounced droopiness in their eyelids, called ptosis.

Can dementia get worse suddenly?

Symptoms of vascular dementia are similar to Alzheimer’s disease, although memory loss may not be as obvious in the early stages. Symptoms can sometimes develop suddenly and quickly get worse , but they can also develop gradually over many months or years.

What are the signs of end stage vascular dementia?

These include: speech limited to single words or phrases that may not make sense, needing help with most everyday activities, eating less and having difficulties swallowing, bowel and bladder incontinence, being unable to walk or stand, problems sitting up and controlling the head, and becoming bed-bound.

How do I fix slurred speech?

How is dysarthria treated? Increase tongue and lip movement. Strengthen your speech muscles. Slow the rate at which you speak. Improve your breathing for louder speech . Improve your articulation for clearer speech . Practice group communication skills. Test your communication skills in real-life situations.