Dysprosody, dysarthria and apraxia are often the result of neurological impairment caused by head or neck trauma, surgical accidents, strokes, or progressive illnesses such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntingdon’s disease and others.
Treatments vary depending on the cause of the speech disorder.
With lisps and orofacialmyofunctional disorders, treatment therapies usually center aroundmaking the patient aware of the various muscles that control the mouth. The repetition of different exercises that will strengthen these muscles and coordinate their interaction iscommon, as well as exaggerated expression of correct mouth postures and production of speech sounds.
In dysarthria which is caused by muscle weakness, paralysis or reduced coordination in the motor-speech system, the patient is likely to be also affected by problems swallowing, or inability to control their tongue, lips, lungs or throat. Treatment involves repetition of exercises designed to improve control over, and strength of, the articulator muscles which may have become either over tight or weak and flaccid.
In fact, most speech disorder treatment therapies centrearound the principles of motor learning which call for repetition of therapy at frequent intervals, patience, continuous practice over long time periods, and progressively more difficult muscular challenges.
The key to success with this type of motor learning therapy is in part dependent on patients having reliable and consistent third party support.
