Which condition is likely to cause flaccid dysarthria?

Flaccid dysarthria is characterized by weakness and reduced muscle tone affecting the speech muscles, resulting in a soft or breathy voice. Bulbar palsy, which is associated with lower motor neuron lesions affecting the brainstem, leads to the weakness of the muscles involved in speech, swallowing, and facial expression. This condition specifically results in flaccidity, which aligns with the symptoms of flaccid dysarthria.

Multiple sclerosis is primarily related to upper motor neuron lesions and tends to cause spastic dysarthria rather than flaccid dysarthria. Parkinson’s disease is associated with rigidity and bradykinesia, leading to hypokinetic dysarthria due to an underlying basal ganglia dysfunction rather than the muscle weakness characteristic of flaccid dysarthria. Similarly, while a stroke can lead to various types of dysarthria, depending on the area of the brain affected, flaccid dysarthria is specifically linked to lower motor neuron involvement, as seen in bulbar palsy.