What aspect of speech is typically affected in flaccid dysarthria?

Flaccid dysarthria is primarily characterized by muscle weakness and reduced tone, which affects the precision of articulation. In this condition, the neuromuscular control for speech production is compromised, leading to imprecise consonants. This lack of precision occurs due to the weakness of the articulatory muscles, resulting in difficulty in producing clear, distinct consonant sounds.

While other aspects of speech such as slow rate of speech, reduced loudness, and prosodic excess may appear in various dysarthria types, they are not as specifically associated with flaccid dysarthria as imprecise consonants. In this context, imprecise consonants become a hallmark feature and are a direct outcome of the muscle weakness inherent in flaccid dysarthria, making this choice the most accurate representation of the speech characteristics typically affected by this motor speech disorder.