Some times speech difficulties could surface.
In, Multiple Sclerosis, while some experience this for a short period others may experience
it for longer spells. Speech difficulty
can be muffled or slurred.
Sometimes people with Multiple Sclerosis may experience it when tired.
Lesions on the central nervous system cause problems of speech and swallowing. Speech could be a side effect of medication.
Cognitive difficulties due to some other changes of MS it would result in mild speech impairments.
How to manage speech difficulties.
Before talking make sure that you have got the attention of the person. You would have to repeat many times to be understood.
When you wish to speak, try to remove noise around you such as tv.
Eye contact, with your listener is important and gestures etc can be used so that they may understand you.
If a long conversation is happening and you find your speech slurring, ask for a small break before you can restart the conversation again.
If you find that you are unable to follow a conversation, take your time to restart without getting agitating and rushing, breath and relax.
Good posture could also help.
If you find that speaking on the phone is difficult, use text, WhatsApp or voice tests or email.
If it is bad go for speech therapy.
Types of speech impairment
Dysarthria
This is the most common speech impairment in people with Multiple Sclerosis.
This type of speech impairment is a result of damage to the brain which produces speech but damage to other areas also could result in this.
The changes to speech could be:
Slurred sleep or slower speech
Soft voice with altered voice
Inability to control pitch
Nasal speech
Long pauses between words.
Dyspasia
This is a rare speech impairment. Here it is difficult to recall words and hard to understand.
