Dysarthria is a distressing speech disorder that results from conditions such as progressive neurological disease, cerebral palsy, head injury or stroke and affects 264,000 people in the UK at any one time. Speech becomes indistinct or unintelligible due to changes in articulation, loudness, vocal quality or volume and speed of delivery. Establishing new and improved patterns of speech requires persistent and intensive practice but most of this is currently done at home without supervision or feedback on progress.

Computers can provide features that give clear instructions, tasks that mimic real-life speaking situations and feedback on progress. This team will develop special computer programs and investigate the use of the computer as a practice tool. If patients are able to reduce their rate of speech, they should be more easily understood and their quality of life greatly improved.