What aspect of speech is most often impaired in flaccid dysarthria?

In flaccid dysarthria, the characteristic speech impairments stem from weakness and reduced muscle tone in the speech muscles, which can affect multiple aspects of speech production. The condition is linked to lower motor neuron damage, leading to muscle weakness in the lips, tongue, and palates.

Articulation is often impaired due to insufficient movement of the articulatory structures, making it challenging to produce clear and precise speech sounds.

Phonation is also significantly affected because the weakness can lead to inadequate closure of the vocal folds, resulting in a breathy voice or reduced loudness.

Resonance can be compromised as well, particularly if there is weakness in the velopharyngeal muscles, which control the opening and closing of the nasal passage during speech. This might lead to hypernasality, affecting the quality and intelligibility of speech.

Overall, flaccid dysarthria can impact articulation, phonation, and resonance, making 'all of the above' the most comprehensive and accurate choice. This highlights the multifaceted nature of the disorder, emphasizing that multiple speech aspects can be impaired simultaneously.