What does dysarthria affect?

Dysarthria primarily affects the clarity of speech articulation. It is a motor speech disorder resulting from neurological injury that impairs the muscles involved in speech production. Individuals with dysarthria may struggle with the coordination and control of the muscles used in speaking, leading to slurred or slow speech, making it difficult for others to understand them.

While the other options relate to aspects of communication, they do not accurately describe dysarthria’s impact. Writing ability, understanding of spoken language, and memory of words are more associated with different conditions or disorders, such as aphasia or cognitive impairments, but are not symptoms of dysarthria itself. Dysarthria focuses specifically on the physical mechanics of speech delivery rather than the cognitive or comprehension aspects of language.