Does MS affect your speech? Yes, it absolutely can! Between 25% and 40% of people with MS experience some form of speech difficulty. These happen because MS lesions damage parts of the brain and brain stem that control speech muscles.
Common speech changes include:
- Slurred speech (dysarthria) — the most common Show Full Answer
Does MS affect your speech? Yes, it absolutely can! Between 25% and 40% of people with MS experience some form of speech difficulty. These happen because MS lesions damage parts of the brain and brain stem that control speech muscles.
Common speech changes include:
- Slurred speech (dysarthria) — the most common, affecting about 40% of people with MS
- Changes in voice quality (dysphonia)
- Scanning speech — robotic-sounding speech with long pauses between words
- Explosive speech — sudden loud, rapid bursts of speech
- Word-finding difficulties — struggling to find the right words mid-sentence
- Stuttering
- Nasal-sounding speech Many MyMSTeam members notice their speech gets worse when tired or under pressure. As one MyMSTeam member shared, "I have problems with speech at night when I'm really tired. In the morning, my speech is back to normal."
The good news is there are ways to manage this! A speech-language pathologist (SLP) can create a personalized plan that may include:
- Breath control exercises
- Voice and articulation exercises
- Communication aids
- Posture improvement with a physiotherapist
It's worth bringing up any speech changes with your neurologist so they can refer you to the right support.
4 days ago
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