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Speech, swallowing and communication

Anarthria

Being unable to produce understandable speech, while thoughts and language remain intact.

What it means

The far end of the same change dysarthria describes. Somebody can still think in words and still has everything to say; the muscles can no longer form the sounds. Communication continues through other means.

Why you might hear it

  • It appears in clinical notes rather than in conversation.
  • It is a reason communication equipment is arranged early rather than late.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.