Difficulty Speaking
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Slurred speech
Difficulty pronouncing words
Speech disorders
Dysarthria
Motor speech disorder
About the Symptom
Dysarthria (also known as difficulty pronouncing words), is a symptom in which the muscles that are used to produce speech, such as the tongue, face, or jaw, become weak or paralyzed to the point that impairs the pronounciation of words.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Hard to pronounce words
Possible Causes
Generally, Difficulty speaking can be related to:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Also known as ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, or motor neuron disease, this progressive, degenerative condition affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. It results in loss of muscle control, eventually leading to difficulty eating, breathing, and speaking. The exact cause remains unknown and may be due to genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors.
- Sarcoidosis (Including Erythema Nodosum-Like Eruption)
A disease where small lumps (called granulomas) form in the skin, lungs, eyes, and other organs. Since various organs are affected, there is a wide range of possible symptoms. The exact causes are not well understood.
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) or chronic relapsing polyneuropathy happens when the immune system attacks the myelin sheaths (protective fatty coverings) around the nerves. The exact triggers are unclear but could be systemic conditions like liver disease, diabetes, infections, cancer, immune system disorders, etc.
- Telangiectasia Ataxia
- Moyamoya Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Difficulty speaking may be related to these serious diseases:
- Tetanus
A life-threatening infection caused by a bacteria called Clostridium tetani. The bacteria releases toxins that affect the nervous system and cause muscles in the body to contract and "lock up". The bacteria are everywhere in the environment and enter the body through open wounds. Risk factors include being immunosuppressed, not being vaccinated against tetanus (or not keeping up with booster shots), and having open wounds or cuts.
- Encephalitis / Encephalopathy
- Vertebral Artery Dissection
- Cerebral Hemorrhage
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have difficulty pronouncing words clearly?
- How long have you had difficulty pronouncing words?
- Have you had trouble pronouncing words properly before?
- How has your difficulty pronouncing words changed?
- How often are you misunderstood due to pronunciation difficulties?
Reviewed By:
Benjamin Kummer, MD (Neurology)
Dr Kummer is Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), with joint appointment in Digital and Technology Partners (DTP) at the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) as Director of Clinical Informatics in Neurology. As a triple-board certified practicing stroke neurologist and informaticist, he has successfully improved clinical operations at the point of care by acting as a central liaison between clinical neurology faculty and DTP teams to implement targeted EHR configuration changes and workflows, as well as providing subject matter expertise on health information technology projects across MSHS. | Dr Kummer also has several years’ experience building and implementing several informatics tools, presenting scientific posters, and generating a body of peer-reviewed work in “clinical neuro-informatics” – i.e., the intersection of clinical neurology, digital health, and informatics – much of which is centered on digital/tele-health, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. He has spearheaded the Clinical Neuro-Informatics Center in the Department of Neurology at ISMMS, a new research institute that seeks to establish the field of clinical neuro-informatics and disseminate knowledge to the neurological community on the effects and benefits of clinical informatics tools at the point of care.
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 (Otolaryngology (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.
Content updated on Feb 13, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
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%3DihubSternic 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/333422Dysarthria (difficulty speaking)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dysarthria/