Difficulty Speaking
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Reviewed By:
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Please choose the symptom you are most concerned about.
It will help us optimise further questions for you.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Find another symptom
How Ubie can help you
With an easy 3-min questionnaire, Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Personalized Report
✔︎ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
Can't pronounce words right
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Learn More
Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Difficulty pronouncing words is called Dysarthria. Search Results Featured snippet from the web Dysarthria occurs when the muscles you use for speech are weak or you have difficulty controlling them.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Hard to pronounce words
Possible causes
- Alzheimer dementia (AD)
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The brain shrinks affecting memory and behavior. Symptoms worsen over time, and can interfere with daily life. Increasing age increases the risk for Alzheimer dementia.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
This is also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, or motor neuron disease. This is a progressive, degenerative condition that affects the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord, resulting in loss of muscle control, eventually leading to difficulty eating, breathing and speaking. The exact cause is unknown. It could be due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare condition where the immune system damages the spinal cord and the nerves of the eyes (optic nerves).
Related serious diseases
- Tuberculosis (TB) (including scrofuloderma)
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection, most commonly in the lungs. Other sites of infection include the lymph nodes, intestines, and skin.
- Chronic subdural hematoma
- Cerebral hemorrhage
- Cerebral infarction
- Vertebral artery dissection
- Tetanus
- Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Do you have difficulty pronouncing words properly?
Do you have problems focusing or a reduced sense of awareness in your surroundings?
Do you have a fever?
Do you feel any numbness or change in sensation?
Do you feel any weakness in your arms or legs?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
References
Enderby P. Disorders of communication: dysarthria. Handb Clin Neurol. 2013;110:273-81. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-52901-5.00022-8. PMID: 23312647.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780444529015000228?via%3Dihub
Sternic N, Mijajlovic M, Tomic G, Pavlovic A. Dysarthria and mutism. Front Neurol Neurosci. 2012;30:83-5. doi: 10.1159/000333422. Epub 2012 Feb 14. PMID: 22377870.
https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/333422
Dysarthria (difficulty speaking)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dysarthria/
Reviewed By:
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Rohini R, MD (Ear, nose, throat (ENT))
Dr. Rohini R is an ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon, with a Fellowship in Advanced Endoscopic Sinus and Skull Base Surgery and a Fellowship in Aesthetic Medicine and Lasers. Besides clinical practice and working with Ubie, she is actively training and mentoring medical students and residents. She has functioned in various work settings - teaching hospitals, private and free health centers, and worked with patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds due to her experience in free hospitals and volunteering in India and Singapore.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan