What is a primary characteristic of Flaccid Dysarthria?

• A. Increased muscle tone
• B. Hyperreflexia
• C. Hypotonia
• D. Ataxia

Answer: (C)

Flaccid dysarthria is primarily characterized by hypotonia, which refers to reduced muscle tone. In individuals with flaccid dysarthria, the muscles involved in speech production are weak and lack the necessary tone to contract effectively, resulting in a speech that can sound breathy, weak, or slurred. This decreased muscle tone affects the respiratory system, phonation, articulation, and resonance, contributing to the overall impairment in speech clarity and intelligibility.

In contrast, increased muscle tone is associated with spastic dysarthria, while hyperreflexia often pertains to conditions involving upper motor neuron damage, such as spastic or ataxic dysarthria. Ataxia, characterized by loss of coordination and balance, is not a feature of flaccid dysarthria but rather associated with cerebellar dysfunction. Therefore, hypotonia is the key characteristic that distinctly identifies flaccid dysarthria from other types of motor speech disorders.