Motor Speech Disorders
Dysarthria & Motor Speech Therapy
Personalized, evidence-based treatment for adults with speech clarity, volume, and intelligibility challenges — delivered in-home, in skilled nursing facilities, and via telehealth across New York State.
What is dysarthria?
Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by weakness, paralysis, or incoordination of the muscles used for speaking — including the lips, tongue, jaw, soft palate, and respiratory system. Unlike aphasia, which affects language itself, dysarthria affects the physical act of producing speech.
People with dysarthria may speak too softly, too slowly, or with slurred or imprecise articulation. In more severe cases, speech may become difficult or impossible to understand. The condition does not affect intelligence or the ability to think clearly.
Dysarthria is always caused by an underlying neurological condition. With the right treatment, many people see meaningful improvements in speech clarity, volume, and confidence.
Common causes
Parkinson's disease
Often causes hypophonia (reduced volume) and monotone, rapid, or festinating speech patterns.
Stroke
Can damage the motor cortex or brainstem pathways that control speech muscles.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
May affect multiple speech subsystems depending on the location and severity of injury.
ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
Progressive weakening of speech muscles; early intervention helps preserve communication as long as possible.
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Demyelination can disrupt the neural signals that coordinate speech production.
Cerebral palsy
Affects motor control from birth or early childhood; treatment focuses on maximizing functional communication.
Brain tumors
Depending on location, tumors or their treatment may affect speech motor pathways.
Signs and symptoms
Dysarthria can look different depending on the underlying cause and which speech subsystems are affected. Common signs include:
- Slurred, imprecise, or mumbled speech
- Reduced volume or a very soft voice (hypophonia)
- Abnormally slow or rapid rate of speech
- Monotone or flat vocal quality
- Breathiness, hoarseness, or strained vocal quality
- Difficulty coordinating breathing with speech
- Fatigue when speaking for extended periods
- Difficulty being understood by unfamiliar listeners
How Tara treats dysarthria
Treatment is always individualized based on a thorough evaluation of your speech subsystems — respiration, phonation, resonance, articulation, and prosody. Tara draws on evidence-based approaches including:
LSVT LOUD-informed therapy
A high-effort, intensive approach originally developed for Parkinson's disease that targets vocal loudness and carries over into everyday speech.
Articulation and intelligibility training
Targeted exercises to improve precision of consonant and vowel production, pacing, and overall speech clarity.
Breath support and respiratory training
Techniques to improve the respiratory foundation for speech, including breath patterning and postural support strategies.
Rate and rhythm strategies
Pacing boards, rhythmic cueing, and other tools to help regulate speech rate for improved intelligibility.
Compensatory communication strategies
Practical techniques for real-life situations — including how to repair communication breakdowns and advocate for your needs.
AAC integration when appropriate
For progressive conditions, Tara can introduce augmentative and alternative communication supports alongside speech therapy to ensure communication is never lost.
What to expect
Initial evaluation
Tara conducts a comprehensive motor speech evaluation to assess all speech subsystems, identify the type and severity of dysarthria, and establish a baseline for treatment planning.
Personalized treatment plan
Based on your evaluation, Tara develops an individualized plan with clear, functional goals — focused on what matters most to you in daily life.
Ongoing therapy sessions
Sessions are typically 45–60 minutes, conducted in your home, at a facility, or via telehealth. Tara works directly with you — no aides or assistants.
Home program and carryover
You'll receive a home practice program to reinforce gains between sessions. Family and caregivers are encouraged to participate and support carryover.
Ready to take the next step?
If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in speech clarity, volume, or intelligibility, early evaluation makes a difference. Contact Tara to discuss your situation and schedule an assessment.