What describes dysarthria?

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder resulting from neurological injury that affects the muscles used in speech production. It is characterized by slurred, slow, and difficult speech due to weakness, paralysis, or incoordination of the speech muscles. People with dysarthria may have varying levels of difficulty in articulating words, leading to speech that can be difficult for others to understand. This condition can result from a variety of causes, including brain injury, stroke, or neurological diseases, and it directly impacts the clarity of speech.

The other options refer to symptoms associated with different medical conditions: shortness of breath relates to respiratory issues, a disorder of mood pertains to psychological conditions like depression or anxiety, and an unsteady or staggering gait is indicative of balance or coordination problems often associated with neurological or vestibular disorders. Thus, while all these options represent genuine health concerns, they do not describe dysarthria, which focuses specifically on speech difficulties.