slurred speech

slurred speech

[slurd]

Etymology: D, sleuren, to drag; ME, speche

abnormal speech in which words are not enunciated clearly or completely but are run together or partially eliminated. The condition may be caused by weakness of the muscles of articulation, damage to a motor neuron, cerebellar disease, drug use, or carelessness.

---

speech,

n 1. communication through conventional vocal and oral symbols.
2. a basic biologic function of the maxillofacial structures. The essential characteristic of the speech function is the production and organization of sound into symbols.

speech aid,

n See aid, speech.

speech, delayed,

n failure of speech to develop at the expected age, usually resulting from slow maturation, hearing impairment, brain injury, mental retardation, or emotional disturbance.

speech device,

n a prosthesis that assists in the management of speech disorders associated with congenital or acquired defects of the palate.

speech disorder, cerebrovascular,

n a diminished capacity to speak due to the location of traumatic brain damage and the involvement of the throat, tongue, and oral cavity.

speech, infantile,

n a speech defect characterized by substitution of speech sounds similar to those used by the child who speaks normally in the early stages of speech development.

speech pathology,

n 1. the study of abnormalities of speech or organs of speech.
2. the diagnosis and treatment of abnormalities of speech as practiced by a speech pathologist or speech therapist.

speech phonation,

n See phonation, speech.

speech reading,

n See reading, lip.

speech resonance,

n See resonance, speech.

speech, retarded,

n slowness in speech development in which intelligibility is severely impaired; often preceded by late or delayed emergence of speech.

speech, slurred,

n abnormal speech in which words are not enunciated clearly or completely but are run together or partially eliminated. The most common causes are alcohol toxicity and drug abuse. It may also be a sign of damage to a motor neuron or cerebellar disease.

speech therapy,

n the application of treatments and counseling in the prevention or correction of speech and language disorders.

speech, visible,

n audible speech patterns that have been transformed by electronic devices into visual patterns that may be read by people who are deaf.