Beginners Guide to MS

Multiple Sclerosis: Speech

Multiple Sclerosis and Speech Problems

"I kept slurring my words. My boss didn't say anything at the time but it was obvious she thought I was on something."

Speech problems can be profoundly far reaching in their impact, and profoundly puzzling if you have no idea what is going on.

Not everyone has problems with their speech but for those who do, the difficulties they cause can be quite frustrating, to say the least.

What are the Speech Problems with MS?

Speech disorders are not that uncommon in multiple sclerosis. In medical language, speech disorders are know as dysarthrias.

Speech difficulties arising from multiple sclerosis may be temporary (transient) or much more rarely, they may be permanent.

The severity of any speech problem can fall anywhere between very mild and barely noticeable, to a severe speech disturbance which makes it very difficult to form words properly and to be understood.

Speech problems can show themselves in the following ways:

  • Slurring of words
  • Mispronunciation of words
  • Monotonous tone of voice
  • Failure to complete words

As with many of the symptoms which can occur with multiple sclerosis, speech problems can come and go, sometimes within the space of a few hours.

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