9. Speech Difficulties – The Struggle with Words
OPCA’s impact on speech is another substantial component of the disease. Speech difficulties or dysarthria in medical terms, is a common symptom experienced by individuals with OPCA. The condition can affect the muscles responsible for speech production, causing them to weaken or function abnormally, which in turn leads to slurred or slow speech.
In the early stages, speech changes may be subtle. An individual’s speech might be slightly slower or softer, or their articulation of certain words might be less precise. However, as OPCA progresses, these issues can become more pronounced. Speech can become increasingly slurred and slow, making it difficult for the person to be understood.
The speech difficulties seen in OPCA can be quite varied, ranging from changes in speech rhythm to alterations in voice quality. Some individuals might have a “scanning” speech, where the normal rhythm of speech is disrupted, and words are spoken in a slow, halting manner. Others might experience changes in their voice, such as hoarseness or nasal-sounding speech.(9)
