Scanning Speech: Everything You Need to Know

Scanning speech is an abnormal speech pattern involving long, abnormal pauses between words or syllables. It occurs as a result of muscle weakness. The problem often happens with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Scanning speech changes the normal flow and pattern of speech. This change in speech rhythm makes it hard to understand a person with this problem.

There is no cure for scanning speech. Some drugs used to treat MS may improve the problem. Speech therapy can also help you adjust to speaking with scanning speech.

This article discusses scanning speech, its causes, and treatment.

What Is Scanning Speech?

Scanning speech is a type of dysarthria, a speech problem related to the muscles that control speech.

Scanning speech results in the inability to achieve proper word formation and speech rhythm. Long, unnecessary pauses interrupt the normal flow of speech, breaking up sentences or words. When it occurs with MS, it can also involve slurred speech.

Scanning speech is sometimes referred to as "explosive speech" since the speech segments can involve erratic periods of loud, rapid speech.

This problem makes it hard to communicate. A person with scanning speech can say the words in a sentence or thought. However, the unnatural pauses make it hard for the listener to put together the fragments and comprehend the speaker's meaning.

Causes

Scanning speech results from damage to the nerves that stimulate your lower face, tongue, lips, and throat muscles to talk. Typically, this is a result of damage to an area of the brain called the cerebellum, which is responsible for speech and muscle coordination.

Damage often occurs due to the formation of lesions on the cerebellum, a common effect of MS. This, and any other type of damage, causes muscle weakness that interferes with the ability to form words, even though the brain knows the right words to say.

Damage to the cerebellum can be present at birth or occur later in life. It is linked to the onset of scanning speech due to the following causes:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Stroke
• Brain tumors
• Brain injury
• Parkinson's disease
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Huntington's disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Muscular dystrophy
  

Multiple Sclerosis and Speech Issues

Multiple sclerosis interferes with speech by damaging the nerves that control the muscles needed for normal speech. Problems like scanning speech and other dysarthrias result and make communication difficult.

Scanning speech is just one of the speech issues linked to MS. Speech issues in MS are typically classified as forms of dysarthria or dysphonia. Symptoms include:

• Slurred speech
• Nasal speech
• Extremely low or high volume
• Harsh voice quality
• Distorted articulation
• Damaged pitch control
• Abnormal emphasis on phrases or intonation
• Lower than normal breath support and control

Treatment

While there is no cure for scanning speech, there are ways to manage symptoms and improve communication. People with scanning speech may benefit from one or more of the following approaches:

• Speech therapy to learn how to compensate for the problem
• Exercises to strengthen muscles that control speech
• Alternative means of speech production, like a computer board
• Medications that relieve MS symptoms such as spasticity, tremors, or fatigue
• Assistive devices that can amplify the voice

Summary

Scanning speech is a common speech problem. It involves the use of unnecessary pauses between words or syllables. It can also involve voice tremors or the uneven emphasis of words or phrases.

The problem occurs when the cerebellum is damaged. This can occur from lesions, injury, or diseases of the nervous system. It is commonly linked with MS.

Scanning speech can be a challenge for those who have it. Being unable to speak clearly can be lonely. While there are no cures, there are ways to manage the problem and improve speech.

Speech therapy and drugs to relieve common MS symptoms can increase speech control and quality. In addition, assistive devices and smartphone apps can often replace the need for flawless speech.

A Word From Verywell

Living with scanning speech can affect your quality of life. It can be isolating to know that you can't always communicate clearly. When combined with the other challenges MS can cause, the onset of scanning speech can feel overwhelming.

It's important to know that you're not alone in dealing with this problem. Many people living with MS deal with some type of speech disorder.

Participating in speech therapy can help you learn ways to slow and change your speech to make it more understandable. A speech-language pathologist can also help you strengthen damaged muscles and recommend technologies that can help others understand you better.

Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you can benefit from medications to correct MS symptoms that may be making your problem worse.

Don't be afraid to let others know about your challenges in speaking clearly. This can prepare your listener for the types of problems that may arise.