Which type of dysarthria may demonstrate severe imprecise articulation?

UUMN dysarthria, or upper motor neuron dysarthria, is characterized by certain speech features, one of which is severe imprecise articulation. This type of dysarthria typically arises from damage to the upper motor neurons, which affects the muscles involved in speech production. When motor control from the upper motor neurons is compromised, the resulting deficits can lead to imprecise and slurred speech articulation because those neurons are responsible for coordinating fine motor control of the articulators (e.g., lips, tongue, velum).

The presentation of UUMN dysarthria often includes other features such as slowed speech and a harsh voice quality, but the hallmark symptom of imprecise articulation is significant and can greatly impact intelligibility. In particular, individuals with UUMN dysarthria might demonstrate unilateral weakness that results in asymmetrical control of the articulators, contributing to the imprecision.

Other types of dysarthria, while they may have their own articulation issues, present with different characteristics. For example, flaccid dysarthria would typically involve weakness and reduced tone, leading to different speech results, while hypokinetic dysarthria is associated with reduced range of motion, affecting loudness and speed rather than precision specifically. Lastly