Dysarthria

Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and do a physical exam. A speech-language pathologist (SLP) may evaluate you to determine how severe your dysarthria is. They’ll check your ability to coordinate your breathing, voice and the quality of your voice. And they’ll check your ability to move your lips, tongue and face.

They may ask you to:

Stick out your tongue.
Smile, pucker or lick your lips.
Count or say the alphabet out loud.
Read a paragraph.
Repeat sounds, words and sentences, and talk in conversation.

What tests might I need to diagnose dysarthria?

Other tests may include:

MRI or CT scans of your brain, head and neck to check for abnormalities that may affect your speech.
Electroencephalogram (EEG) to check for abnormalities in your brain activity related to dysarthria.
Electromyographyto test the electrical function of your muscles and nerves.
Blood or urine tests to see if an infection or inflammation is causing speech issues.
Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to see if an infection or tumor is causing dysarthria.

Your healthcare provider may perform a modified barium swallow study or videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) to test for problems with swallowing, which sometimes occur with dysarthria.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.