brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
Dysarthria
Diagnosis of Dysarthria
A doctor's evaluation Standardized tests of brain function Imaging tests To diagnose dysarthria, a doctor asks the person about symptoms and does a physical examination. A speech therapist often helps in the evaluation. The practitioner may also do the following: Ask the person to do some simple tasks, such as blowing out a candle, biting the lower lip, and sticking out the tongue: Observing the person doing these tasks helps the practitioner evaluate the strength and movement of the muscles involved in speech. Ask the person to repeat words and sentences, sing, and count: Observing the person producing sounds helps the practitioner detect problems with speaking, such as breathiness and jerky speech. Standardized tests of brain function ( Diagnosis ) may be given by a neuropsychologist or speech therapist. These tests also help practitioners plan treatment and determine how likely recovery is. Imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are done to help identify the cause. Evaluation is also evaluated, usually with x-ray studies using barium ( Other tests may be done, depending on the suspected cause. These tests may include blood and urine tests, a Spinal Tap (lumbar puncture), 