When a person sustains an injury to the brain, he or she may experience a variety of disabilities depending on the location and severity of the brain damage. In particular, damage to the motor control areas that affect the muscle movement of critical speech organs can create a serious speech disorder known as dysarthria. Without proper control over the parts of the body associated with speech, such as the vocal cords, jaw, and tongue, a person may not be able communicate verbally.
Speech Control Loss and Dysarthria
Losing control over the ability to speak can be devastating for an injured individual. Not only can a person develop emotional issues as a result of this condition, but in some cases, this disability can affect an individual’s professional opportunities. The following speech qualities may be affected because of dysarthria:
- Tone
- Pitch
- Volume
- Vocal quality
- Breath control
- Range and strength of voice
- Rate of speech and timing of delivery
Speech therapy and other treatment options may be able to improve an injured individual’s speech, but the costs associated with these treatments are often high. However, if the brain injury was caused by another person’s careless or negligent actions, the injured individual may be entitled to pursue compensation to help cover these expenses.
Contact Us
If you’ve developed dysarthria because of a brain injury caused by someone else’s negligent conduct, there may be legal options available to help you seek compensation for your treatment and recovery costs, including your speech therapy needs. For more information about how we can help you prepare for legal action after a brain injury, contact a lawyer from the Cottrell Law Office by calling 800-364-8305 today.